“Many, many New Zealanders will be left wondering how it can be that a vicious killer like Rogers can be released after just 10 years behind bars, especially when his victim’s family have made clear their opposition and anguish.”

“People will draw the conclusion there is something fundamentally wrong with a system that allows this to happen, especially when 92% of them signed a petition calling for tougher penalties for violent crimes.”

“And the families of many victims, who re-live daily the trauma of what happened to their loved one, will be left wondering who is going to be next to discover that the person who ruined their lives is about to go back into the community,” Mr Dunne says.

Mr Dunne says while there must always be compassion in the justice system, the pendulum has swung too far.

“Compassion for the offender often seems to be more important than compassion for the victims and their families, and that is what people are reacting against.”

“The release of Shane Rogers shows a gross insensitivity to community feelings, and runs the unfortunate risk of fuelling the call for more extreme solutions.”

“This is a time for Corrections Minister Matt Robson to speak out forcefully on behalf of the primacy of victims’ rights, not continue to hide meekly behind the official position of not commenting on individual cases,” he says.

“That is an abdication of responsibility which New Zealanders no longer tolerate,” Mr Dunne says.

ENDS