Posts by Russell Brown
-
Hard News: About Arie, in reply to Sacha,
I believe people with aspergers chose the term “aspie” (though I still have a lot to learn about the history). Plus I like the way it sounds.
+1.
It works. And it sounds kinda happy when you say it.
-
Hard News: About Arie, in reply to Karen Crisp,
Cops were from NZ, according to this.
Yes. It appears Arie himself was mistaken.
-
Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Neil Morrison,
But I see it’s become a tribal politics thing so I’ll leave it alone.
Well, no. You were actually wrong. And the paraphrasing was clearly accurate too. Don't make it someone else's fault.
-
Hard News: About Arie, in reply to Matthew Poole,
Seriously, listen to yourself. You are unwilling to entertain the slightest possibility that an investigation could, quite legitimately (on the part of the investigators), be unable to reach a conclusion that supports prosecution. You are demanding that the police do anything necessary to achieve a prosecution.
I would be happy to see meaningful restorative justice.
I suspect it would be very good for Arie if he was to hear – at the expense of whatever government – a sincere apology from those who had custody of him, and for them to hear just how awful he was made to feel. That, and a promise that what happened here won’t happen again, backed up with a commitment to training.
And, naturally, substantial media coverage.
-
Hard News: About Arie, in reply to Hilary Stace,
Local Asperger advocates have been in touch with the Minister of Police about her reported comments, and she apparently denies saying them.
So I gather. The Minister seems to be freaking out a bit.
Your move, NZ Herald.
-
Hard News: The digital switch-off, in reply to giovanni tiso,
broadcasting hardcore porn?
Which, it seems proper to note, makes plenty of money for Sky -- the religious beliefs of its chief executive notwithstanding.
-
Whoops. Turned a page at an unfortunate time there.
Just to reiterate the key point of the message from Arie’s lawyer on the previous page: it looks like an assault by police officers on Arie will be acknowledged and investigated.
But they were NOT New Zealand police officers.
Edit: Lew Stoddart has pointed out on Twitter that the Australia police who came here were sworn in as NZ officers. So technically, they are NZ cops.
-
This message has gone out from Simon Buckingham, who I presume is representing Arie:
Dear fellow ASD friends and all wellwishers
It has been initially established that there may well have been an assault on Arie by police. However, it also appears that these were NOT NZ police officers.
Foreign police officers have left their families to volunteer to come to Christchurch to support. You have to be here to witness the devastation, and as an Aspie, I am close to meltdown myself having had little sleep from the aftershocks. As such, whilst there may be a couple of bad apples, it is important that this issue is dealt with in a sensitive and respectful manner.
Please therefore could you not simply attack the police, but recognise that it is in the best interests of Arie and his family to resolve this matter fairly and with minimum fuss? He is so grateful to all those who have supported him, and mortified at what is happening. Therefore, before attacking, please can we allow due process to take it’s course?
Thanks so much, and kia kaha.
Simon
But I can still be angry at Michael Laws, right?
-
Hard News: About Arie, in reply to Ross Mason,
Plice have reviewed the case and…..
Out on bail at thr Rangiora Court
Good.
It appears that, still, no one has had the nerve to ask who beat him.
-
Hard News: About Arie, in reply to Rhys Lewis,
You may have known at the time that there was a good justification for saying that this event occurred, but you did not make reference to any sources, or the need to protect any sources by not naming them. So it read simply as a prejudicial comment. If it were a comment made without evidence, then it would align with other unsubstantiated comments regarding police brutally beating people.
It's hardly "without evidence". Arie has injuries consistent with a beating. He was in police custody. We already know that police had treated in him a highly questionable way by placing him in the "perp walk". We have -- subject to conformation -- a report that he has told his foster sister he was beaten by police. A court of law would require a bit more than that -- and would get it by being able to interview those involved -- but this isn't a court of law.
My view remains that the overwhelming likelihood is that Arie sustained his injuries in custody, at the hands of police officers. So much so that I'm prepared to state it as fact.