ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Wellington Lawyer on Three Strikes Law that's set to go: 'Law results in punishments are excessive and absurd'

Publish Date
Fri, 12 Nov 2021, 11:16AM

Wellington Lawyer on Three Strikes Law that's set to go: 'Law results in punishments are excessive and absurd'

Publish Date
Fri, 12 Nov 2021, 11:16AM

A Wellington lawyer says the Three Strikes Law did not do what we were told it would do.

The Government's scrapping the law created by Act in the National-lead coalition Government 11 years ago.

It meant people convicted of a third serious violent, sex or drug offence should get the maximum sentence without parole.

Criminal barrister Elizabeth Hall told Nick Mills the terrible law shouldn't have passed.

She says it does not keep violent offenders off the street as promised

"It leads to grossly unjust and awful results that judge, lawyers and even the police acknowledge was not the intention of the legislation"

Hall says that is because the legislation removed the ability for the judge to impose an appropriate sentence.

"Our Supreme Court has said this legislation results in punishments that are well beyond excessive, that are absurd, perverse and breech our bill of rights"

National Party justice spokesman Simon Bridges is against the repeal.

"It will put public safety at more risk and it will result in more victimisation of victims," he said. 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you