Harassing the wife of the policeman who shot Steven Wallace last year did not warrant a deterrent or punitive sentence, a New Plymouth judge ruled yesterday.
Mr Wallace was shot dead on April 30 last year after a window-smashing spree in the Taranaki township of Waitara. A police inquiry decided that the officer acted in self-defence.
Mr Wallace's mother, Raewyn Mary Wallace, aged 50, and his sister, Kelly Anne Wallace, 22, were convicted last month of harassing the constable's wife. They followed her home from her husband's farewell at New Plymouth police station last September 16 and spoke to her.
Judge Patrick Toomey said periodic detention or community service would not be a constructive way of dealing with the problems of either family.
Instead, he prohibited the defendants from associating with the officer's wife or her family for 12 months, and ordered each defendant to enter into a $2000 bond to keep the peace towards them.
He noted that Raewyn Wallace had written a letter apologising "for what might have been seen as her wish to harm someone", but added that the Wallaces' behaviour had caused considerable concern to the officer's wife and her family.
Judge Toomey said the women were all victims, suffering the consequences of an incident which had received significant publicity, and the court must pay heed to the unresolved grief of the defendants.
He ordered the names of the complainant and her family to be permanently suppressed.
- NZPA
Family of Steven Wallace escape penalty
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.