Posts by Sacha
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Russell Brown,
So if he wasn't impaired he couldn't be granted diversion?
And if he was impaired he couldn't be granted diversion?
Arie in Wonderland
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,
We'd need to see a timeline about the refusal of diversion and the withdrawal of the plea, but I suspect they happened in that order.
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Russell Brown,
We'd have granted diversion if only he hadn't been autistic.
As we discussed upthread, I suspect ignorant assumptions about capacity to accept responsibility come into this.
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,
Diversion should be for people who are guilty
But he pleaded guilty, as Russell notes above.
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Herald story is interesting (and yes, still headlined "looter").
In a statement issued this afternoon, police said the long process of constructing a psychiatric report on Mr Smith-Voorkamp was to blame for the six-month legal battle.
Superintendent Dave Cliff, who was Canterbury district commander at the time of Mr Smith-Voorkamp's arrest, said the independent report was received last Thursday.
...Mr Smith-Voorkamp also alleged he was assaulted at the time of his arrest after he was photographed with a black eye at his first appearance in a makeshift court in February.
Mr Davis [Arie's partner Michael] said Mr Smith-Voorkamp was elbowed in the face by police.
Mr Cliff said Mr Smith-Voorkamp received "a bang to the side of the head" and accused him and Mr Davis of being intoxicated.
"After initially running from police, the men were not compliant and were forced to the ground to be handcuffed. Mr Smith-Voorkamp had a bang to the side of his face. The pair were affected by alcohol and potentially drugs at the time of arrest."
Mr Cliff said it would have been inappropriate to give Mr Smith-Voorkamp diversion as he did not accept responsibility for his actions due to his defence of mental impairment.
"It is inappropriate to use Diversion as a tool for dealing with people who may have a defence to the charge."
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Russell Brown,
Already changed to: All charges dropped against autistic man
Only at new story linked from home page. Headline seems unchanged on original story.
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Hard News: 2011: The Year Of What?, in reply to Andy Pickering,
Fashion should hold up as folk try to make sense of/express their angst at the economy's demise. Not sure about kittehs though.
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Hard News: Is that it?, in reply to James Butler,
I talked to you for, like, 30 seconds at the OGB
Wish had been longer, always happens at those things. Next time
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Hard News: 2011: The Year Of What?, in reply to Wammo,
been hanging out with Jason Kerrigan again, haven't you?
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Hard News: 2011: The Year Of What?, in reply to James Butler,
We're not even 3/4 of the way through yet!
the year of impatience