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Lawyer says Turangi rape accused shouldn't be tried as adult

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Wed, 18 Jan 2012 9:19p.m.

Peter Williams QC

Peter Williams QC

A high-profile lawyer is worried that the teenager who admitted raping a young girl at a Turangi camping ground last month, may not get the treatment needed if he is sentenced as an adult.

The 16-year-old pleaded guilty to three charges of rape along with burglary and sexual violation charges when he appeared in the Taupo Youth Court this morning.

Turangi teen guilty of campground rape to be sentenced as adult

He will be sentenced in Rotorua as an adult next month.

Peter Williams QC says prison is no place for a teen needing rehabilitation.

“A 16-year-old has a different mental outlook from a person who is an adult, over 21,” he says. “I think that the judiciary and the jails will have to think very seriously before they impose adult sentences on young people.”

Seven hundred people signed a petition calling for the teenager to be sentenced as an adult.

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Comments

30 Jan 2012 07:03p.m.

lysbeth wrote:

This is something of a triple tragedy, first for the little 5 year old,(heartfelt empathy goes out to her and her family), secondly for the youth (again, the sheer pain all the family including the young man will carry throughout their lives is deeply painful)and thirdly for our race as human beings as a whole,(There is nothing so sad as damaged children carrying their pain throughout life ) When children disfunction to the point of agressing other more vulnerable than themselves,killing,raping,bullying or committing suicide,where should the adults be looking? Is locking them up with hardeneed adult criminals really what society should be thinking about. These are the creators of tomorrow we are looking at,can we afford not to do everything in human power to take these young lives,all victimes of serious disfunctioning of our society , and do our utmost best to help them change their ways.

19 Jan 2012 02:28p.m.

jan.. wrote:

The young man is a teen as from the age 14, to 17 and must be punished for the crime he committed, an adult starts at 18..

19 Jan 2012 11:56a.m.

pondering wrote:

it has to be said that 16yr do not have the same perceptions and pre sequential thinking as adults . That does not mean their crimes are any less serious than adult offending. It means their consideration of the consequences of the crime to themselves and others, are less. It means they have less ability to avoid committing the offence. If you take sex crime and other extreme violence out of the equation and think on lesser crimes such as petty theft, mindless vandalism and minor dope charges should a 15 or 16 yr be held as accountable as a habitual adult offender. Should their punishment be the same. Are they more responsive to rehabilitation than a hardened adult offender. The bulk of juvenile offending is petty and reactionary. Should this be held against them for the rest of their life???

19 Jan 2012 08:34a.m.

Jenny wrote:

What a surprise - a defence lawyer worrying about the criminal's rehabilitation. Any thoughts on the 5 year old and her family Peter? Were you swayed by the karakias, the guilty plea and the comments made by the family who insist their child rapist kid is not a monster? You cannot rehabilitate a paedophile - they need castration and a cell for life.

18 Jan 2012 11:25p.m.

Phred wrote:

Criminals in jail are no good to lawyers who live cushy lives by defending them for each criminal act.

18 Jan 2012 11:11p.m.

Bryce wrote:

I totally agree with the previous 2 posters-what the hell can be wrong with a 16yo that he's not socialising with people his own age?There must be something badly wrong with this guy,and while I think he needs incarceration he also needs treatment too before he is let out-and he can try to curry favour with as many "karakias" as he likes.

18 Jan 2012 10:19p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

Peter Williams I dont agree with you at all.This is a very serious crime through the actions of a 16 year old teenager?So what! he supposed to have a brain in his head,That poor little girl was not the age of 16 so why in hell she have too suffer for years to come.This I would say he should get one year for every year until that girl becomes a adult.He went there with all intentions too commit the crimes, so give him the time in a adults prison and see if he comes out a man.Lawyers are there for 1 thing and that is MONEY guilty or not they wont miss out.Too me they are just as corrupt as the offender.Many know fully that when a person is guilty yet they will try and get them off with the charge one way or another.Even though the girl was not sixteen does not mean she should get raped,but she would have had the chance too defend herself,This is one thing that tells one is not leave children alone,does not matter where you are,if unsure take them with you,as after all you are the parents who should be taking care of your child/children for gods sake,parents wake up to the fact you do have children.Seven hundred people signed the petition,If it came to me I would have added another 700 too it.The same thing happened too our granddaughter 19 yrs ago,she was only 2yrs of age,by a idiot of the same age.I would say flog them with a razor belt,and too hell with the prison time,as they only serve part of their time in prison.

18 Jan 2012 10:03p.m.

paul wrote:

Peter Williams, why dont you just drop off the planet. Every time something like this happens, you creep out of the woodwork and splutter a lot of do gooder crap. If that little girl was my grand daughter, I would have shot that bastard that did this. He deserves 25 years with NO parole at least, and I hope he gets what he deserves while inside.