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An aunt of murdered Scottish backpacker Karen Aim says she will never succumb to pressure to forgive her niece's killer.
Violet Perfect, who came to New Zealand 40 years ago from the Orkney Islands, where Miss Aim's family lives, said she was still shocked and distressed by the young woman's violent death in Taupo on January 17.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, and aggravated robbery in relation to Miss Aim's death. She was badly beaten.
This week the Sensible Sentencing Trust hit out at the pressure some families experience to meet and forgive killers.
Mrs Perfect said she did not understand how anyone would think that a murderer should expect to be forgiven.
"These people are only sorry they've been caught ... I don't see what good it would be to even think about forgiveness," she told The Press.
Mrs Perfect had joined the Sensible Sentencing Trust for support as the case made its way through the legal system, but it was hard going daily.
"I have no idea how long it will take to heal. When it's a murder, it's an entirely different shock, and it goes on and on till they find someone. I think about her a lot, and her parents. I still don't know anything about the trial process. We are taking it one day at a time," she said.
Kim Workman, who heads Prison Fellowship, has accused the trust of using victims and their stories to lobby politicians for stronger penalties against criminals, but also said victims should never be pressured to forgive criminals. His organisation would, however, organise a meeting if both parties wanted it.
The head of the trust, Garth McVicar, said victims were being made to feel guilty and out of step with the community if they did not want to confront offenders.
"It's like they're being told, 'Get over it'," he said.
Some were also not aware that if they agreed to go through a restorative justice process before a criminal was sentenced, it could reduce the penalty a judge handed out.
"It's dishonest to the victim," Mr McVicar said.
- NZPA
