From an act of thuggery and violence (one at the upper end of the scale) once again a no-consequence scenario has come out of the court system  for the perpetrator.  Just a slap on the hand with a wet flannel.   Add to this a report in today's news that he gladly told one of his victims that he had won the case!    

Well the reality is 'you ain't won nothing' - in  fact with the assistance of the judge this person has done the rugby fraternity in Wellington a lot of damage.   One wonders if the judge would have come to the same conclusion if the offender in front of him had been say, a plumber or, maybe an artist - I wonder.

There is also a rather worrying theme that has been evident in recent times where the judge at the time of sentancing has made comment to the importance of saving the country money'. 

And as for the victims, once again a perpetrator can bask in the glory of his thuggery being reported through the wider media while the victims have to get on, in the back ground, with living a very different life to what they once enjoyed.

So where is the third umpire in all of this?  As flippant as this may sound a reality check needs putting place, as it happens (with a re-run if necessary) not some months later.  Also there appears to be  a section of the legal fraternity whose decisions are based on possibilities, along with the offenders perceived position in society, not the reality of life.

Ed.

Should make for an interesting election in Upper Hutt this year . . .