Moko’s killers get 17 years in prison

Family First NZ’s Bob McCoskrie said NZers were really horrified by the fact that Moko’s killers’ murder charges were lessened to manslaughter.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/81477608/Moko-Rangitoheriris-killers-David-Haerewa-and-Tania-Shailer-sentenced-to-17-years-prison
NewsTalk ZB 27 June 2016
Tania Shailer and David Haerewa have been handed the highest ever sentence for the manslaughter of a child, after a lengthy sentencing at the High Court in Rotorua.
The pair beat the three-year-old so severely, he died from the abuse.
Judge Sarah Katz started at life imprisonment, and then gave a discount for guilty pleas and personal circumstances.
They’ll be behind bars for at least nine years.
Shailer and Haerewa looked after Moko, while his mother cared for her other child in Starship Hospital.
Earlier, Moko’s mother Nicola Dally-Paki sobbed giving her victim impact statement in court.
“Aren’t you meant to be my friend. Someone I could trust. Instead you torture and kill my child. When you are sentenced I hope you think about your actions and accept that this is yours and David fault.”
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the downgraded manslaughter conviction reflected a trend of “political systems disguising the real nature of crime”.
“This was a murder of the very worst sort and the charges should never have been downgraded.
“Not being honest about crime in New Zealand leads to tragedy. Contrary to National’s spin, crime is not down, it’s up. All sorts of offenders are now being warned rather than charged.”
Family First NZ national director Bob McCoskrie said the organisation welcomed the sentences given to Moko’s killers.
But they still wanted a review of child abuse laws and changes to the legal system to avoid plea bargains.
“The message has to be clear — if you violently abuse a child in such a way that it results in their death, then it will be treated as murder. Violent child abusers should not get manslaughter when the child victim gets a life sentence.”
Communities were often told to “do more and speak up”, but politicians and the legal system must also “reflect the revulsion that New Zealand families have towards the violent murders of defenceless and vulnerable children”, he said.
“The wrong message is currently being sent to society as to how much value is placed on the life of a child. Moko’s case is just another example. This is not the first time. But it has to be the last.”
READ MORE: http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/crime/mokos-killers-get-17-years-in-prison/
‘Disgraceful, gutless and disempowering’ – sentencing of Moko’s killers slammed
TVNZ One News 27 June 2016
Tania Shailer and David William Haerewa must serve at least nine years in jail for the brutal manslaughter of the three-year old.
Scott Guthrie from Sensible Sentencing said the sentences are nothing short of disgraceful, gutless and disempowering.
Asking what planet Justice Sarah Katz is living on, Mr Guthrie said it proves NZ’s justice system is unbalanced and discriminative.
Family First NZ has welcomed the 17 years given to Moko’s killers but is continuing to call for a review of child abuse laws and for changes to the legal system to avoid ‘plea bargains’ and child abuse killers having their charges reduced from murder to manslaughter.
“The message has to be clear – if you violently abuse a child in such a way that it results in their death, then it will be treated as murder,” says national director Bob McCoskrie.
“Violent child abusers should not get ‘manslaughter’ when the child victim gets a life sentence.”  Bob McCoskrie
READ MORE: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/disgraceful-gutless-and-disempowering-sentencing-mokos-killers-slammed
NZ’s anger over Moko sentencing
NewsHub 27 June 2016
Tania Shailer and David Haerewa have been sentenced to 17 years with a minimum of nine years for the manslaughter of three-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri.

They tortured and neglected him for two months before his death — and Justice Sarah Katz told the court their offending was one of the worst cases of manslaughter she had dealt with.

Across New Zealand, demonstrators gathered today to express their shame and anger at Moko’s death. Now, they are reacting to the sentencing, and the decision not to lay murder charges.

“The message has to be clear — if you violently abuse a child in such a way that it results in their death, then it will be treated as murder,” said Family First director Bob McCoskrie.

“Violent child abusers should not get ‘manslaughter’ when the child victim gets a life sentence.”
READ MORE:  http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/nzs-anger-over-moko-sentencing-2016062716#axzz4Cl4BdOS6
Moko’s killers get 17 years in prison
NewsTalk ZB 27 June 2016
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the downgraded manslaughter conviction reflected a trend of “political systems disguising the real nature of crime”.

“This was a murder of the very worst sort and the charges should never have been downgraded.
“Not being honest about crime in New Zealand leads to tragedy. Contrary to National’s spin, crime is not down, it’s up. All sorts of offenders are now being warned rather than charged.”
Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar said the sentence showed Justice Sarah Katz had “gone as far as possible under the current legislation”.
“The police originally charged [Moko’s killers] with murder … those charges should have stuck and the sentence would’ve been life without parole.”
Justice Minister Amy Adams had called for the public to stand up for vulnerable children in the community and today, in protests around the country, they had, Mr McVicar said.
It was now time for lawmakers to step up.
“For New Zealand to get on top of this horrific level of child abuse we need to redefine the boundaries and redefine the consequences for anybody who hurts or abuses a child … we were surprised [Justice Katz] went the whole way in sentencing. It shows her frustration.”
Family First NZ national director Bob McCoskrie said the organisation welcomed the sentences given to Moko’s killers.
But they still wanted a review of child abuse laws and changes to the legal system to avoid plea bargains.
“The message has to be clear — if you violently abuse a child in such a way that it results in their death, then it will be treated as murder. Violent child abusers should not get manslaughter when the child victim gets a life sentence.”
Communities were often told to “do more and speak up”, but politicians and the legal system must also “reflect the revulsion that New Zealand families have towards the violent murders of defenceless and vulnerable children”, he said.
“The wrong message is currently being sent to society as to how much value is placed on the life of a child. Moko’s case is just another example. This is not the first time. But it has to be the last.”
READ MORE: http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/crime/mokos-killers-get-17-years-in-prison/