Ian McLean 2011 Green candidate for Tauranga

Are we being properly served by our legal system?

The guy gets out of his car, and the cyclist dies. It took three expensive court days to decide that the notion of a car door as an offensive weapon was absurd. If he didn't see her, how could he attack her using the door? The case was a joke.

We might stop him from owning car doors for a time, as for the guy who mistreated dogs (no dogs for eight years). Why not life?
A guy on his sixth drink-driving charge is sent to jail at a cost to the taxpayer of $90,000 per year. When he comes out, he must undergo rehabilitation. This guy has a medical problem called alcoholism and needs help, not jail. That $90,000 would buy a lot of treatment.

We have lost sight of the real purpose of a legal system, which is to promote socially appropriate behaviour. This focus on vengeance must stop.

Ian McLean was the Green Party candidate for Tauranga in the 2011 election.