Praise for killing man brings condemnation
AUCKLAND: Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar has come under fire after condoning the shooting and killing of a man by police.
Mr McVicar took to Facebook yesterday to congratulate police on the fatal shooting of a 29yearold east Auckland man after a police chase on State Highway 1 near Pohuehue yesterday morning.
‘‘One less to clog the prisons! Congratulations to the New Zealand Police, our thoughts are with the officer who was forced to take this action to protect the public,’’ the man’s Facebook post read.
Mr McVicar founded Sensible Sentencing in 2001. The charitable trust is said to support victims of serious violent and/or sexual crime and homicide.
Glenn Jeffrey, of New Plymouth, contacted the Herald to voice his disgust at the post.
‘‘My daughter was a victim of a horrific crime so I find Garth McVicar’s statement to be abhorrent and I believe the Sensible Sentencing Trust should have its charitable status reassessed because of these comments.
‘‘I am appalled that a fellow New Zealander has these opinions and the support he has received on his page is really scary,’’ he said.
Most responders to the post harshly criticised McVicar’s stance. Only a few support his message.
One poster said: ‘‘I respect the police but there’s no cause to rejoice at the death’’.
Others said he should be ashamed of himself and the comment was ‘‘totally inappropriate’’.
‘‘The use of deadly force unfortunately is sometimes necessary/required but to suggest it should be congratulated is appalling — especially given we as yet have no idea as to the facts of the case/circumstances of the individual involved whose family who are no doubt mourning his death,’’ one person wrote.
One responder even said Mr McVicar appeared to have ‘‘become the abuser’’ in his stance.
‘‘I think you need to step away from your crusade, you are now becoming the abuser.
‘‘Have you considered the family and friends of the deceased having to read this. Take a look at your mob that follow you now jumping in and attacking the deceased,’’ he said.
A few commenters supported Mr McVicar’s message, stating ‘‘bloody good call’’ and that police had ‘‘saved the hardworking taxpayer thousands of dollars’’. — NZME