Parents hit back at Laws' outburst

Michael Laws. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

The grieving parents of a boy killed in a trail bike accident are seeking legal advice over outspoken radio host Michael Laws' on-air accusations of blame.

Heather and Stuart Fowlie say they are shocked by the Wanganui mayor's "double standard" - he was fined last week for driving with an unrestrained child on his front passenger's lap - and are waiting to hear back from their lawyer.

Eleven-year-old Blake Fowlie died when he was hit by an oncoming car as he turned across the road into his Paeroa driveway on February 21.

It was initially reported as a quad bike death, and Mr Laws berated the Fowlies on his Radio Live programme that week.

Mrs Fowlie said she did not want to start a mud-slinging match, but wanted a retraction.

"Nothing we do is going to bring our son back, but we're extremely upset about what he said.

"We can't wrap our children in cotton wool, it happened ... we bought him the bike, that doesn't make us a murderer."

She was angry that Mr Laws could make such comments, then transport his child unrestrained in a car.

"He's broken the law with that child unrestrained in the car seat. What gives him the right to go condemning parents, when what sort of a parent is he?"

Mr Laws last night blamed media and police for incorrectly reporting that Blake's death happened on a quad bike.

Had he known the boy had been killed on a two-wheeled farmbike, "I doubt very much I would have made those comments".

Some comments he had made had been "quoted out of context" and had been offered as "one extreme end of opinion".

Mr Laws said he would be happy to sit down with the Fowlie family to talk about the matter, and if any offence had been taken, "perhaps an apology may well be due".