BACK IN COURT

Well, I was back in court again today. I’m facing five charges of breaching a suppression order in my campaign to stop convicted serial rapists and paedophiles from having their identities legally hidden from the public. Last year I started a Name Them and Shame Them campaign designed to get what I think is a really a bad law overturned. A law called an Extended Supervision Order which, instead of protecting the community, is being exploited by some of the worst, most violent and depraved criminals in this country. Our petition goes on. You can sign it: Name them shame them.com. One word.

My case in the Magistrate’s Court is being hampered because I have still not been able to get hold of some County Court transcripts on which the charges against me are based. The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slowly.  And it sometimes seems like a joke. That’s what I told the media outside court today: If this wasn’t so serious and didn’t have the potential of $60,000 in fines and/or 12 months jail it would be a joke.

Anyway, we now have a hearing before the Chief Judge of the County Court Michael Rozenes next month and then back to the Magistrate’s Court and probably end up in the Supreme Court.

I wish they’d spend as much time and energy chasing real criminals. Not somebody trying to stop them.

And then you look at cases like the one I covered this week. The case of convicted paedophile Jamie Armstrong. Earlier this month the 28-year-old pleaded guilty to 33 charges of sexual assault on children. Over 12 years he sexually assaulted little boys and girls. The youngest was two. The oldest was eleven.
He already had a previous conviction for indecently assaulting a little girl in a swimming pool. He got a minimum sentence of 18 months jail. Go figure.

If common sense, or morality, or community protection came into this issue I wouldn’t be in court at all. But, of course, the law’s the law. Forget about who’s looking after the children.

Friday, February 20, 2009

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2009