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Interesting Names – Looters

by Whaleoil on September 6, 2010

A hanging judge is what is needed in Christchurch, looks like they might have found one in Judge Michael Crosbie.

Anyone caught looting in the wake of Christchurch’s devastating earthquake on Saturday would be harshly treated by the courts, a judge warned today.

“The court will be taking a close look at people who offended during this disaster,” Judge Michael Crosbie said.

They would be presented to the courts as being people who were capable of anything.

He made his comment in Christchurch District Court while dealing with series of remands of people alleged to have taken advantage of the disaster.

Justice Crosbie slapped remands in custody or strict curfews on those charged in cases where police alleged the offending was earthquake related.

In line with my policy on open justice residents of Christchurch take note that these people are not your friends:

  • Jack Duckmanton (20) – unemployed
  • Shannon William Johnson (19) – mechanic
  • Daniel Ezekiel Peneha (28) – unemployed
  • Deon Mathew Rich (17) – unemployed
  • Kimiona Ngatamariki (21) – chef

Name an shame people, name and shame. There is no name suppression for looters, how about we apply that to pedophiles too?

Looters will be shot

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  • blackpaul

    Trouble is Cam, like so many you’ve named, none of these people have been found guilty of anything.

    Name the guilty by all means – you have my support there – but naming anyone ACCUSED of a crime, well that’s just a bit bloody authoritarian and you should know better than that.

  • whalewatcher

    YOU LOOT,
    I SHOOT

    THEN YOU ARE ROOTED
    AND I AM NOT LOOTED

  • http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/ inventory2

    I disagree blackpaul. Read the Herald story, and you will find that Judge Crosbie quizzed the police as to whether or not these people had been caught on premises affected by or vacated because of the earthquake. In the post from which WO nicked the names (you could have at least changed the font Cam, or hat-tipped ;-) ), Keeping Stock has been at great pains to point out that they are innocent until proven guilty, but all appear to have been caught in the act. Their names are in the press because the learned judge has refused to suppress them, and I’m sure that there is a public interest component to that.

    • blackpaul

      I do see your point that you think they’re *probably* guilty, but really that’s just because the cops reckon so and that’s exactly what *innocent until proven guilty* is supposed to protect us all from.

      We mustn’t allow the state to make people guilty or innocent by fiat and that’s exactly what’s happening here. The police say these are the guys and that’s all the proof you seem to need.

      Not good enough. If the police have a case to make against someone then they have to prove it in court. THEN publicize it in the media if necessary. Not the other way around.

      • http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/ inventory2

        I see your point as well blackpaul, but these are rare old times. In the wonderful Rumpole books, the presumption of innocence is described as the Golden Thread. In Christchurch however, the thread has been ripped asunder, and residents there NEED to know what lowlifes have been apprehended taking advantage of human suffering.

        • blackpaul

          Why?

          Don’t you mean they NEED to know what lowlifes have ACTUALLY been taking advantage of human suffering?

          I don’t see why an earthquake changes that at all. Has there been more crime in Chch than usual since the earthquake or something? If not, then what’s the problem?

  • sideshowbob

    Apart from the odd instance (eg Arthur Allan Thomas) the police in NZ are generally highly regarded amongst us non-crims. I’m prepared to accept that if these low-lifes were apprehended by the police in the act of looting, then that’s exactly what they were doing. They may well get off lightly depending on the statutes, but that doesn’t mean there are innocent in the real world. Most likely pissed and took advantage of “free stuff” lying around, but if being pissed was a justifiable excuse for every action this country would be in real trouble. Too bad Karma didn’t kick in – all that falling brick and this lot are still walking amongst us…

    • blackpaul

      Then there is no need for courts at all.

      If that’s not the crux of your comment I’d like to hear why.

  • cadwallader

    Blackpaul: I am always in favour of “the rule of law” but extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary measures. The effects of the earthquake will to a significant degree affect each of us whether a CHCH resident or not. Financially, emotionally etc..

    The police have stretched resources in CHCH currently and patience will be tried. Anyone caught anywhere on a damaged property without lawful entitlement ought be presumed to be there for nefarious purposes regardless of the subsequent judicial process.

    • blackpaul

      What extraordinary circumstances are you hoping to address exactly?

      There’s no crimewave sweeping Chch – the extraordinary circumstances are geological ones, not criminal. What does removing the presumtion of innocence do to alleviate the effects of the earthquake?