KEY POINTS:
A teenager who caused a crash in a stolen Mercedes which killed two people was today given the harshest sentence a Youth Court can impose - just three months supervision.
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
Leanne
If you are given adult responsibilities at the age of 15, which is the legal age for a drivers licence, then the law should charge everyone as an adult for any driving offences. This youth has taken two lives - one of whom was a father of two children. I am the mother of one of those children and I have to explain to our 4 year old why he can't see his Daddy anymore and why his Daddy does not come to see him anymore. You try living with that and explaining everyday for years to come until he is old enough to totally understand. I feel for Karen McGregor-Dawson and the other youth who were hurt in the accident as they will live with the memories for years to come. Karen was seriously injured and will have those scars for the rest of her life. Our son has to grow up without his Dad and his memories of his father will dwindle because of our sons age. This is a sentence that our son has to live with for the rest of his life as well. No slap on the wrist is going to deter any youth offender and this youth is a good example that there is something wrong with the youth justice system - his previous convictions are proof. Come on New Zealand - we need to get tougher with our penalties.
Bruce MacMillan
This manifestly light sentence for a youth who caused the deaths of two innocent people is typical of the wanky judicial system operating in our country and administered by an equally wanky judiciary.
Michael
Of course not. People got hurt and people died - the punishment in no way fits the crime. Legislators, what if it had been a member of your family who had died in such a meaningless way? ... at least enable justice to be done.
Nick
We shouldnt be surprised at the appallingly weak sentence. NZ is a haven for the criminal elements because our laws favours the crims and not the poor victims! The severity of the crime makes no iota of difference, the perpetrator will always come out squeaky clean!
Ure Kismet
Who benefits from this low sentence? Obviously the kid himself but given that even the most rabid of the 'bring back the birch' whiners and moaners don't accuse the guvmint of allowing 'crims' to pick the crimes they will be charged with, it would be wise to cast the net a little further to see who is behind this unusual 'plea bargain'. The kid nods his head to a charge whose sentence can't possibly match the crime, that is if he was the major cause of these maimings and deaths. The community jumps up and down demanding heavier sentences for youth offenders right at the time that the government is reviewing that issue. Hmmm! This thing has all the 'synergy' of a jack up by some careerist intent on ensuring there is no blowback on his own organisation while reaping increased power for that firm. No big trial means no discussion of the whole incident especially not the car chase and at the same time a good chance of getting even more power to play these games with. And people are angry at the kid?
Sally
Absolutely disgusting! I would be gutted if I was the lady who was injured or the family of the two who died. The Judge did the best he could but this just isn't good enough. This is not going to discourage this boy from doing something like this again. If the age you can drive in this country is 15 (which I do think is too young but that's another matter) then you should have the full impact of the law at that age too.
Tania
This was a poor result, but the only one that the judge had to hand down. This kind of thing is going to become a regular occurance as the start of this sort of behaviour dosn't all of a sudden happen. This boy obviously has offended before, will offend again, and will become a statistic in our prison system.
RP
What a joke. 3 months detention for murdering 2 innocent people. They cant justify manslaughter, because he hasnt had any other driving convictions, the bastard shouldnt be driving, he doesnt have licence. Soft laws run by soft judges. Crims have more rights than any one else in our society. Something got to be done.
Michal Kaponga
I believe that boy should have been chucked in jail no matter what age he is, if he is 'man' enough to steal a vehicle then he is certainly 'man' enough to face a grown mans sentence, for killing two people he should have been given maximum penalty from an adults perspective.
Anne Barber
The sentence for this youth offending ( killing two people and maiming two people) is not right.He has not been remorseful since the day he entered the Youth Facility in Auckland last October. The sentence once again shows all youth and youngsters that they can steal a vehicle, kill people and get away with it, where as an adult would be charged with murder and do proper time. Where is the justice?
Loralei
I most strongly do not agree with the sentence (three month under supervision) that the 16 year old boy received. I think that teenagers (and I an one myself) should be treated as adults if they commit an adult crime, such as this. I do not believe that is fair to anyone involve that he gets off lightly for killing two innocent people just because he is a minor.
David
I don't care how old he is. He stole a car and as a result of his actions two people were killed and another seriously injured. There is something wrong with the legal system where a judge can only impose what amounts to a slap on the hand with a wet bus ticket.
Rick Collins
It is no wonder youth crime is where it is in New Zealand with the punishment for killing another person being nothing more then a slap on the hand. The young man thought he was man enough to steal from another person that worked hard for what they had, the youth was man enough to drive at excessive speeds to show off to his friends, and he was man enough to run from the police. At what stage does someone become man (or woman) enough to be fairly punished for their actions. It is my opinion that if the youth wishes to act like an adult, then he should be punished as such. What does this verdict teach him and others like him? Would things be different in the youths mind if it was someone else driving the car and they killed a member of his family?
Christine Lloyd
I think the outcome of this case is an absolute disgrace. This kid is a recognised criminal and has been for the past 5 years and all he gets for the above trauma and horror affecting many other lives is a slap on the hand with a wet bus ticket . It will only be a matter of time before he is back before the courts with more serious charges as there appears to be no programme in place to 're-educate' this criminal. He knew what he was doing and was once again flouting the law. The Youth Court Judge did his best with what he could work with . Frankly the law needs to change to address these redivist youth criminals.
Tim Spooner
I am in Bangkok and 312 people have been killed in Thailand on the roads in the past holiday week. However, nothing here compares with the piece of garbage who caused this murder on the roads and who has got off scot-free. No doubt this is just the start of a lifetime of mayhem and anti-social behaviour by this guy. In Thailand, he would be in a harsh jail for 20 years at least. Stupid New Zealand, when will you get the message. No deterrent equals uncontrolled behaviour.
