The family of Dunedin murder victim Sophie Elliot are calling
for victims to have the same rights as the accused in
criminal court cases - the right of legal representation and
legal aid.
They have made a submission to a Ministry of Justice
consultation document, A Focus on Victims of Crime: A Review
of Victims' Rights, in an effort to address what they see as
"anomalies in the criminal justice system", Miss Elliot's
father, Gil Elliot, said last night.
"We're doing it for Sophie. She'd want us to push on," Mr
Elliot said.
In July last year, Clayton Weatherston was convicted of
murdering Miss Elliott (22) in her home at Ravensbourne in
Dunedin, on January 9, 2008.
The discussion document outlines proposals which aim to
improve government agencies' responses to victims of crime
and to enhance victims' rights and role in criminal justice
processes.
Mr Elliot said the document scraped the surface of the
"anomolies" but he hoped his message that victims should be
represented with their own lawyer and legal aid, just like
offenders, would get across.
At present, victims or their families had no part to play and
no input in a trial.
It was a very unbalanced system, he said.
"We'd like to see balance."
Victim impact statements were supposedly a way for victims to
have input into the court process but it could be censored as
his was in Sophie's case, Mr Elliot said.
"They inked out a third of mine ... and it took me months to
do."
The submissions, which closed last week, would be analysed by
the Ministry of Justice.
It would then provide proposals to the Government for
consideration.
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