Police go away

[Squeak the Rat]

Mayors that kill three people?

So what you are saying is that Police SHOULD make a judgement call on who to charge, dependant on their perceived severity of the crime?

[Crisis management]

So what you are saying is that Police SHOULD make a judgement call on who to charge, dependant on their perceived severity of the crime?

Surely a very different case, Shadbolt injured others in the crash (and himself) and offered an explanation for the crash.
Isn't it an explanation that is lacking in Rifles' case?

[Squeak the Rat]

Surely a very different case, Shadbolt injured others in the crash (and himself) and offered an explanation for the crash.
Isn't it an explanation that is lacking in Rifles' case?

T'was exactly my point about 5 posts ago, she should say her sunglass case fell on the floor.

(Did people actually believe Tim Shadbolts story?)

[candor]

Very irresponsible reporting

So what if a fireman said she is nice and she looks "nice", reasonably attractive etc. The picture of the "happy American family" is very calculating.

A person with a conscience would shut up and leave it to the courts and not be so worried about her precious image. The grief would be their greatest concern and they would not be so preoccupied with charges etc to go to media and paint themselves the victim IMO.

What is she hiding or afraid of to not talk to Police. The court would not send her to jail over this one. It would simply be a conviction and nothing more and her losses would more than be taken into account in our liberal system. I'm betting she wouldn't talk as maybe she was stoned?!? Or did something really stupid like ?lipstick applying.

Most people who say they don't remember - really they do. No special treatment is deserved here. Its owed to those kids to have the record straight and the truth out. We should not be giving parents the message they can do away with their kids thru "carelessness" and then everyone will go "oooh aaah" in sympathy.

Too many kids are killed and injured by idiots on the road. I'm not denying the mother is in agony and that there could be no greater pain than what she now has. But this is not just about her - there are wider issues imo. I hope she gets good support and the rest of the family - as well as charged if she has done wrong.

[Crisis management]

I take your point, but then you can not complain when the police use their discretion (Shadbolt case), can you?

From the article it appears her wall of silence is being used to prepare a defence for court rather than "assisting the police in their enquiries" and after the Kahui case I don't blame them for charging her.

[imdying]

So what you are saying is that Police SHOULD make a judgement call on who to charge, dependant on their perceived severity of the crime?

Nope, they should charge him (as they did) just like they charged her (as they did).

The police should of course have some discretionary powers to exercise... like making a drunk clean up his piss with his shirt rather than flatly arresting them for urinating on public property. They don't appear to grossly abuse that power, so all for the status quo to be maintained.

[Hitcher]

This matter has nothing to do with suffering or a justice system determining whether somebody may have suffered "enough". It's about whether a crime was committed or not. That's what the Police have to determine. If they decide that it has, then charges should be pressed.

I am surprised that the usual KB vigilante gang hasn't already thrown its noose over a limb on this matter.

[ManDownUnder]

I am surprised that the usual KB vigilante gang hasn't already thrown its noose over a limb on this matter.

New ropes are on backorder - the old ones are far too thin and started snapping heads right off...

[Paul in NZ]

I am surprised that the usual KB vigilante gang hasn't already thrown its noose over a limb on this matter.

I'm not quite sure thats strictly fair as everyone deserves a trial before their execution. Besides - having a different opinion on sentencing and the appropriateness of capital punishment in some cases does not make most of us vigilantes. I prefer the term 'realists'.

No - the thing is 3 people are dead because of carelessness or incompetence OR an outside influence. If she parked the van on a slipway, left the handbrake off and let it roll into the sea and claimed it was an accident what would you think then? (I know what I would think). If she stupidly left the kids in the van in the hot sun while she was inside playing the pokies? While stupidity or incompetence is NOT a crime the consequences of both these things can become a chargeable offence.

A lot of traffic accidents are sufficiently badly explained to make me go hmmmm.... (prob not the case here) but I know that if I have my kids in the car OR I'm riding in an area highly likely to have others I take extra care.

We don't know the whole story. Perhaps she has a terrible accident history or something or maybe the Police think this was just a terrible accident thats never likely to happen again and are looking for a way of NOT charging her?

Regardless of this - 3 people in her care are DEAD and surely there MUST be an explanation or accounting.

[Deano]

The system puzzles me sometimes.

Say she had killed three family members by leaving hot oil on the stove and burnt the house down - would she have been charged with anything ? Manslaughter perhaps ?

What about the parents of the 13 year old boys (or the boys themselves) - one of which nearly died when his mate shot him in the head.....don't you have to be 14 to use an air gun without parental supervision ? Yet no charges...

Crims getting bail for unremorseful rape...murder....it's got me buggered.

[Skyryder]

These sort of accidents where there is the possibility of driver error, and where the driver survives and family members (occupant) die, usually leaves me with some disquite. On one hand there is sympathy for the driver in as much, they have suffered enough and should be left alone, and the dispensing of justice for those killed. The police in these cases can be dammed if they do and dammed if they dont.

Given the fact that the driver has not, and appears unwilling to give an explanation of what happened then the police have a duty to lay charges.

Sometimes I think it is better just to tell the truth even if it is through a lawyer. This woman seems to be hiding something and whatever it is, it needs to be pursued.

Skyryder

[Paul in NZ]

Crims getting bail for unremorseful rape...murder....it's got me buggered.

Ouch - brave admission - don't worry - I'll arrange some restorative couselling for you...

(know what you mean though)

[Patrick]

(Did people actually believe Tim Shadbolts story?)

TUI.... TUI.... TUI....

Now where did that black dog go????

[Patrick]

The system puzzles me sometimes.

Say she had killed three family members by leaving hot oil on the stove and burnt the house down - would she have been charged with anything ? Manslaughter perhaps ?

What about the parents of the 13 year old boys (or the boys themselves) - one of which nearly died when his mate shot him in the head.....don't you have to be 14 to use an air gun without parental supervision ? Yet no charges...

Crims getting bail for unremorseful rape...murder....it's got me buggered.

13 year old can't be charged... too young.

Need to be 16 and supervised by a parent or licenced firearm holder. 14-15 year olds are not "supposed" to be near air guns...

[Patrick]

Given the fact that the driver has not, and appears unwilling to give an explanation of what happened
This woman seems to be hiding something and whatever it is, it needs to be pursued.

Skyryder

Murder/suicide perhaps? Only got it half right maybe?