Elation greets Middleton's release

1:00 PM

Applause erupted inside the Auckland District Court this morning as Judge Michael Lance QC gave Mark Middleton a nine-month suspended sentence for threatening to kill Karla Cardno's murderer.

A jury had convicted Middleton on three charges of threatening to kill Paul Dally and Judge Lance had previously indicated a prison sentence was highly likely.

But a psychiatrist's report diagnosing Middleton with "chronic hypertrophic grief" helped persuade Judge Lance to suspend the sentence for two years so that Middleton could receive professional help.

"It was regrettable that you were not diagnosed or treated earlier," Judge Lance said.

Middleton emerged from the court and was swamped by hundreds of well-wishers and waiting media.

He said he had not expected to receive a suspended sentence and thanked his supporters before being whisked away in a taxi.

In court, Defence counsel Keith Jefferies described Middleton as a hard-working, honest man, who now realised there were other ways of achieving his aims.

Mr Jefferies said Middleton would make no further threats against Dally.

Meanwhile cheers and applause broke out among the Middleton supporters gathered at his home in Wanganui when they heard of his suspended sentence.

Their reaction was one of elation and relief. Many there believed Middleton would be jailed for his comments.

Plans are already being made for a hero's welcome.

In Whangarei, about 100 Middleton supporters gathered at a protest rally outside the district court this morning.

Among them were Sonny and Ellen Hohepa, whose son Shane was killed by gang member Lenin Wayne Lazarus in January last year.

They said Middleton was saying what most New Zealanders felt.

"What Mark Middleton was saying was that life (imprisonment) should mean life, not 10 years, not 12 years, not 16 years, but life," Mr Hohepa said.

"We [the families of murder victims] have got a life sentence to live with, and so should they [murderers]."

- JO-MARIE BROWN and NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Archive stories:

16.02.2001

Freedom for stepdad who threatened to kill

Protesters await Middleton sentencing

Middleton asks supporters to remain calm for sentencing

03.02.2001