Aid for victims' families praised

Rebecca Templeman, with husband Andy, is pleased by the Government's move to assist relatives of murder victims. Photo / APN

The mother of Liberty Templeman yesterday welcomed Government moves to aid relatives of murder victims.

The homicide support service is to be enhanced with grants for families of up to $5000 and court attendance costs.

There will also be travel and accommodation allowance increases and childcare help for victims attending court.

Rebecca Templeman yesterday told One News that she was back at work two weeks after her daughter was murdered.

"When you've got that financial noose around your neck that bills have to be paid and mortgages have to be paid, you don't have any choice really," said Mrs Templeman.

"We are not the only ones who have found ourselves in financial difficulty when you lose somebody. So I think it's really good. [But] it's too late for a lot of people."

Liberty Templeman, 15, was strangled and dragged into a stream to die in November 2008 by Theo Kriel, who was then 14. He was convicted in the High Court at Whangarei of murder in February and sentenced to a minimum of 11 years in jail in March.

- Staff reporter