Sentencing trust resignations

AUCKLAND: The founder of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, Garth Vicar, is resigning from leading the organisation known for pushing ‘‘tough on crime’’ policies.

His decision comes as the trust struggles to gain the ear of the Government and months after Mr McVicar praised police for shooting dead a mentally ill man.

But a trustee of the organisation says Mr McVicar’s exit — and that of his wife, Anne — is not a response to controversy.

Documents show Mr McVicar and his wife Anne met trustees from the Sensible Sentencing Trust and its taxdeductible partner, the Sensible Sentencing Group Trust, two months ago, and announced their intention to resign.

The meeting in May set aside 90 minutes for the McVicars to talk about their ‘‘intention to resign’’ and then, with others, to discuss the evolution of the trust from 2001.

A separate part of the meeting was set aside to consider electing someone to lead the organisation through a ‘‘formal handover’’ period.

Trustee Gil Elliott confirmed the McVicars would step down from the organisation at the end of the year.

A combination of family issues and dedicating almost 20 years to the trust lay behind the decision.

Mr Elliot, whose daughter, Sophie, was murdered in 2008, said leadership change took the load off one person’s shoulders over to a management team.

He said it posed challenges for the trust because Mr McVicar was so closely associated with the organisation he launched in 2001.

‘‘Garth knows a hell of a lot of people in media and politics,’’ Mr Elliot said.

The trust will be led by Leigh Woodman, who is a trustee of the group trust and its national victims portfolio manager.

Ms Woodman became involved after the murder of her daughter, Vanessa, who was 15. — NZME