Crime story

The Herald today publishes an account torture of a 9-year-old girl by her parents that is so dreadful that I could not quote any of it here. It is difficult to read the story to the end. So why does the Herald feel it necessary to illustrate the story with a mawkish stock photograph of a battered teddy bear? Is the reality of this child's suffering not enough? Does the Herald think its readers will only be moved to pity by a carefully set up photograph which clearly is designed to manipulate the viewer's emotions?

And am I the only one reminded of Drop the Dead Donkey?

Meanwhile, new evidence shows that middle-class crime anxiety is largely unfounded:

More than half of all the crime in New Zealand falls on just 6 per cent - just over one in 20 - of the adult population, a survey shows.

And if you're a young, poor, brown city-dweller, you're much more likely to be a victim of crime that an old, rich, white person living in the country.

An old, rich, white person living in the country, Mr Garth McVicar, was not consulted for this story. In fact, it seems that nobody wants to hear from Garth these days. It seems that his clemency towards David Garrett has hardened cynical journalists against him. Garth's media-friendliness was further unenhanced by his demand for the Police Commissioner to be sacked, in the middle of the Pike River disaster. And perhaps his latest media release will confirm our suspicions:

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is criticising the sentence handed down to convicted killer David Bourke, saying it acts as encouragement, rather than a deterrent.

Bourke's been sentenced to two years 10 months prison for the manslaughter of his brother Timothy, and for shooting at Police officers, but he's eligible for parole shortly.

His lawyers argued successfully that Bourke was provoked due to relentless pressure from his suicidal brother.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar says the sentence is a slap on the wrist.

So Garth thinks people might be encouraged to assist the suicides of their siblings because of this sentence; yes, we were right, he really is just a nasty old man. And of course, he has create a file on his database for Mr Bourke. The quality of mercy is not strained.



Speaking of crimes, how could this be allowed to happen?