Party official asked to resign after downplaying Capill crimes

Graham Capill

Christian Heritage's policy director Mark Munroe has been asked to step down after he sent an email stating that convicted paedophile and former party leader Graham Capill's crimes did not meet the biblical definition of rape.

Capill was imprisoned in July for rape, sexual violations and indecent assaults on girls aged between five and 11 that occurred over a span roughly coinciding with his leadership of the Christian Heritage Party.

Last week an email from Mr Munroe was posted on a political weblog site.

In the email Mr Munroe said Capill's offending did not meet the biblical definition of rape and this was why Capill had conflicts about pleading guilty to the charges against him.

Christian Heritage leader Ewen McQueen today told NZPA Mr Munroe's email expressed private views, which were not those of the party's.

"Whilst Mark's views were his personal opinion, they displayed a serious error of judgment and left me with little option but to ask him for his resignation.

"Like most New Zealanders I am dumbfounded that anyone would want to continue debating the technicalities of the Capill case and what sort of penalties are appropriate or not appropriate.

"The crimes were appalling. The court made its decision. For the victims' sake the matter should now be laid to rest."

The issue of Capill's conviction has dogged Christian Heritage.

At the election the party registered just 0.12 per cent of the vote, down from 1.35 per cent in 2002.

Since Capill's conviction the former leader has continued to be in the news.

Earlier this month a leaked letter from Capill detailed complaints about his treatment at Christchurch's Rolleston Prison.

The letter, meant for prison officials, claims guards were picking on Capill, not allowing him enough time on computers to study for university papers, not giving him asthma medication, not doing photocopying necessary for his studies and denying him the opportunity to receive his children's diaries from his wife.

The leaked letter prompted fellow inmates to warn him to stop "moaning" about his treatment in jail.

- NZPA