Editorial: Scum rub shoulders with sorrowful

I'm often left shaking my head at the people who appear in our local courts.

Many are scumbags with no regard for others. Some are simply dodgy or plain stupid. But there is another category of people who aren't bad but end up in trouble through a single act of carelessness and do everything they can to make up for their offending.

This week there have been some examples of these types of criminals in our court.

In yesterday's edition, we published the story of former Mount Maunganui bar worker Mathew Aro, who was jailed for viciously beating another man behind a strip club.

The victim stupidly provoked the attack - but Aro's response was a shocking case of a violent person out of control. Aro is nasty scum and people would be wise to steer clear of him once he is released from prison.

Today, we have another scumbag - this time a businessman on child porn charges fighting to keep his name secret.

We feature his court case on page A3. His crimes, which he has admitted, are disgusting and vile and he faces a lengthy stint in prison.

The man maintains that naming him will hurt both him and his wife - both prominent in business circles in Waikato.

The Crown wants him named, saying openness of justice and the public's right to know the identity of criminals are more important than the potential impact on the man and his wife.

Of course, I agree. This man knew that his dirty habit was outrageously wrong and should have thought about his reputation and his wife.

I await the judge's decision on this matter with interest.

But today,  there is also another court story that gives some hope.

Jonathan Martelli lost control of his car and smashed head-on into 16-year-old scooter rider and promising basketball star Alex Schipper, badly injuring the teen.

Martelli stupidly fled the scene but then he did the right thing.

He handed himself in, pleaded guilty, paid $5000 towards medical costs and reparation, and even went to Tauranga Hospital to apologise to Alex.

Martelli falls into the category of someone making a careless mistake and then doing everything they can to make up for it.

I am impressed.

Too often I read about lawyers arguing their clients are remorseful, but I wonder if they really are.

Martelli gives hope to others who offend that they can be genuinely remorseful and do what they can to put things right.

Alex hopes to return to his former basketball glory in a year's time.

I wish him the best of luck.