Roast Busters’ victims hit out at ‘artist’ Parker

Victims of the Roast Busters say they are ‘‘still hurting’’ after one of the gang’s ring leaders called his actions those of an artist.

Joseph Lavell Parker, son of Hollywood actor Anthony Ray Parker, spoke on Newshub on Monday, apparently attempting to launch a music career.

Parker was in 2013 named as a leader in a group of young men based in Auckland who were allegedly gang-raping intoxicated underage girls, and boasting about it on social media. After an 18-month investigation, police did not lay charges because of a lack of evidence.

On Monday night, Parker’s television interview sparked outrage from victim advocates saying the young women sexually attacked faced being re-traumatised by the interview.

Parker told Newshub he was an ‘‘artist’’.

‘‘It’s in my blood I’m an artist naturally, it’s not like I thought I’m going to write a song about the Roast Busters etc. I’ve been making music since before then, and as an artist you write about your life,’’ he said.

His comments left two of his victims angry, Newshub reported.

‘‘He’s been in the [United States] doing God knows what, but we’re back here dealing with this. It still affects me every day,’’ one victim, who laid a rape complaint, told Newshub.

Another interview with Parker was to be aired on Newshub last night.

The victim, who is now 20, said the damage had been done. ‘‘He can explain this as much as he likes, but he’s done his damage and I have no forgiveness.’’

Another of his victims told Newshub Parker would never understand as there are ‘‘so many of us still hurting’’.

‘‘If he was 100 per cent genuinely changed, that’s great. But he doesn’t seem like he is,’’ she said.

Victim advocate Louise Nicholas told Stuff she thought Parker’s launch of a music career and comments he made on a podcast last year were ‘‘unbelievable’’.

‘‘He’s laughing about not getting caught.’’

A police spokesperson said yesterday any relevant new information relating to ‘‘Operation Clover’’ would be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine what, if any, further steps might be required form a police perspective.