Guest post: Universally they took a one sided view
Originally a comment by Rob on By a reasonably clear margin.
For those who can’t access the Herald story, the StuffNZ version:
The man’s lawyer, Emma Priest, said this was a unique set of circumstances that would never be repeated by her client who has ADHD and autism and got caught up in the “frenzied Posie Parker protests”.
She said a conviction would be out of proportion to his offending and would result in difficulty in the young man gaining employment.
His ADHD and youth amplified his impulsivity that day. Priest said her client had taken responsibility, was truly remorseful and willing to engage in restorative justice – which was declined.
Since the offending, he has undertaken 180 hours of volunteer work at the Red Cross, completed the Man Alive programme and counselling sessions, Priest said. The man also offered to pay $1000 in reparation
IS ADHD, Autism, and youth and excuse for unprovoked assault on someone 45 years older than you? I don’t think so. If he’s truly remorseful and has undertaken substantial and appropriate community work to make amends – that is something that could be taken into account in sentencing. Community work would be a pretty typical sentence for a first offender of a ‘moderate’ assault. Even so, I think he has been very lucky indeed to have no conviction entered against his name. I also don’t think that he should have got name suppression. NZ Courts use this far too liberally in my view. They let him off, the least they could do is allow us all to decide how we interact with him in the future and evaluate his future behaviour.
Finally, much of that ‘frenzied atmosphere’ was whipped up by NZ media, especially Stuff. Collectively they ran many articles in the weeks leading up to PP’s visit. Universally they took a one sided view. Published untruths and did not correct them. Painted trans people as the most vulnerable ever whom of course we must all support, and painted PP and anyone who wanted to see her as the next best thing to a nazi hate group. Then they tsk tsk when the primed mob turns violent.
There were many complaints to the media ethics body following these events. The decision acknowledged that coverage had been very one sided, but said that coverage could be balanced over time. That of course has not happened.
Video shows there were a few old men there. Yet somehow our perp never punched one of them. The results would likely been as injurious, and I think there would be jail time. But I think he just hated women talking and took that out on the easiest to injure nearby woman. The court agreed she was an acceptable target.
Thanks Ophelia. Also, now I really wish I’d proof read before hitting submit…
Are ADHD and youth both afflictions destroying the ability to empathise anbd/or tell right from wrong.? I don’t think so. So if the victim does not want any of his money, I am sure a grateful alternative recipient could be found. After all, it’s the thought that counts.
Omar, in NZ restorative justice isn’t the offer of money, it’s a face to face meeting between victim and offender. The idea being that the offender and can personally express their remorse and answer the victims questions, and the victim can tell the offender how they felt/feel as a result of their actions.
When it works it’s a beautiful thing. Problem is now that many perps are told to offer it or do it because Judges like it and it helps reduce their sentence. increasingly I’ve heard of victims saying that the offender didn’t seem to really mean what they were saying – just going through the expected motions, or even appearing amused when the victim recounted their pain and fear.
I do believe in redemption and second chances. I’m not in favour of a carceral state, or the Police ensuring that the ride is the punishment. At the same time I think Systems actually struggle to render compassion or justice.
Rob @ 2 – Heh, sorry. I did a little tidying but I can make further changes if you want. Not until tomorrow though, I’m running away now.
Thanks Ophelia! Run on.
Autism often does result in a lack of empathy (which also makes a person bad at discerning when they’re being lied to).
Think about it this way: if you believe as the gender goblins do that anyone associated with KJK represents an existential threat to them and their friends (literal violence and genocide, something an autist is likely to internalize), then go to an exciting, intense protest with close proximity to those monstrous enemies, add on young male for that easy transition into violence, and this is what’ll happen. The problem starts with the ideas, the rest just follows from the circumstances.
The perpetrator wasn’t thinking (to the extent that any young male is thinking when he attacks someone) “I will attack this innocent old lady who is expressing her views.”; he was attacking a Nazi complicit in genocide. It’s always dangerous when you’re certain you’re the good guy.