Sophie's parents fight for victims

Sophie Elliott's killer, Clayton Weatherston, will wait at least 18 years before he is freed. Photos / The Press, supplied

Fresh from seeing their daughter's killer sentenced in court, Sophie Elliott's parents will be pushing for a better deal for victims as the Government fronts up today to families shattered by violent crime.

Gil Elliott and his wife Lesley are among many high-profile victims attending the Sensible Sentencing Trust's Victims' Rights Conference in Taupo.

Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins is due to address the conference and listen to the concerns being aired.

The Elliotts' daughter, Sophie, 22, was stabbed 216 times and mutilated by her former boyfriend, Clayton Weatherston, in January last year. Weatherston, 33, was sentenced on Tuesday to at least 18 years in jail.

The trust will be pushing their concerns about the "ratcheting down" of sentences across the country, inconsistencies in prosecutions, and judges failing to take control in courtrooms.

Mr Elliott told the Weekend Herald he felt most strongly that a life sentence should mean life. "And if the justice system is not going to do that, then they must stop calling them life sentences, because they're not. I don't think anybody thinks that sentences are long enough."

Mr Elliott got the impression prosecutors had asked for a minimum of 19 years for Weatherston only because a longer sentence might prompt an appeal by his lawyers. "I don't give a stuff. Because sometimes when people appeal anyway, their sentence is increased, not reduced."

Until the appeal period had passed, the Elliotts could not get back property belonging to their daughter, such as her diary and cellphones.

Mr Elliott also feels strongly there should be more financial support for victims. He advocates a Government fund that can provide payouts to help families through the tough times.

His family had some help from ACC and Victim Support, but the burden of a funeral, travel to and from court hearings and long periods off work had taken a heavy toll. "We shouldn't be down the gurgler when it comes to money. Some families could be bankrupt over something like this."

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said conference numbers had been restricted to 104 this year "but sadly we could have had 10 times that number. There's still a lot of new faces this year. It's a club that no one wants to be a part of."

Mrs Collins said she welcomed the opportunity to hear people's concerns.

"I believe the pendulum of justice has swung too far in favour of criminals ... This Government is focusing on putting the victim in the centre of judicial proceedings. I have zero tolerance towards pandering to criminals."