COURTING JUSTICE

Today I appeared in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court to face five charges arising out of my campaign to end the legal suppression of the names of serial rapists and paedophiles. Some of the charges stem from that rally I held on the steps of Parliament House back in June and some from editorials on this website.I have been charged with five offences for allegedly breaching County Court suppression orders by identifying two offenders at that public rally and on my website.

If convicted those penalties provide for fines in excess of $12,000 on each charge and up to 12 months in jail.

Today’s case was adjourned until November 20. It’s complicated but basically the Office of Public Prosecutions hasn’t yet provided us with the Police brief on the case because that would involve them identifying the criminals I identified. Even though the Police themselves named those people in the summons served on me. We also plan Supreme Court action about the validity of the suppression orders and the issue of public benefit and my freedom of speech.

All of this results from my attempts to change a law. A law that was designed to protect the community but instead protects serial offenders. The Extended Supervision Order.

Six months I launched a campaign to have a law overturned. A law which thousands of people think is a bad law. A piece of legislation called an Extended Supervision Order.

On the surface it sounds good for the community. Sounds like it is protecting the community. Extending the supervision of serial rapists and recidivist paedophiles after they leave jail.  It’s not good. It’s bad. It actually helps sex offenders hide their identities after they are released back into society.

I said at the time: Murderers don’t get their names suppressed when they complete their sentence and leave jail. Why should rapists of women and children?

It prompted a rally and a Name Them and Shame Them petition which has now been signed by more than 6000 people from Australia, New Zealand, England, Russia, the United States and Turkey. It says quite simply:

‘WE, the undersigned, demand the Victorian Parliament change the laws so that a judge or magistrate cannot suppress the identity of a serious sex offender unless such identification will also identify a victim.’

You can still sign that petition at namethemshamethem.com.

Again today I was asked by journalists: Did I think I was morally and legally in the right. My answer? I know I was morally right. Whether or not I was legally right is for the courts to decide. And that’s the way it should be. And that’s the way it will be. Next court date November 20.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2008