For only the second time in as many weeks, 'hats off' to New Zealand's Justice Minister, Andrew Little: this time for taking it to an international social media conglomerate of the likes of Google...for, effectively, transgressing the law (of our land, anyhow) - or at least coming awfully close thereto; by releasing the name of the accused/apprehended (in the now *globally well-reported homicide investigation into the gruesome murder of the erstwhile British backpacker and O.E.-er Grace Millane)...and thus apparently overriding the name suppression that, upon appeal, the apprehended suspect, legally **'enjoys'...
As Mr Little puts the matter (quite genuinely, I happen to believe), this is all about ensuring a fair trial...so that Ms Millane's killer is - properly - convicted...and not - somehow-or-other - released upon some specious legal technicality. Surely she and her family deserve no less.
Yes, those outfits like Google with such overarching transnational powers do indeed have corresponding (corporate) responsibilities...that they are duty bound to comply with...at all times.
Though admittedly such a law - or, more aptly, the allowance of/for such a get-out clause by the defendant - corresponding (timewise) as it just so happens to with a certain very high-profile RCC figure over in Oz currently receiving conviction for child sexual abuse, does indeed seem both silly and ridiculous...to any and every half-sane onlooker with even an ounce of common decency or basic humanity in his or her bones. And surely once such a conviction has been made and guilt established beyond reasonable doubt (as in Oz) such name suppression should no longer be provided, but should be - automatically - lifted, no longer serving any real useful purpose?
Though you'd be hard pressed to find anyone, even among NZ's hard-bitten criminal fraternity, I dare say, with any truck whatsoever for such a cold-blooded murderer, let alone having any time for the mere existence even of such a law...nevertheless 'the law is the law', and is part of our age-old Westminster tradition of due process for one and all, and so once you start to tamper with any part of such a basic legal framework, you'd better be awfully careful in tampering with part of the well-established foundation thereof lest the entire edifice ultimately come crashing down around our feet.
Though it's surely cool comfort for Grace Millane's deeply loyal, loving and close-knit family, compromise the law a little here and there in order to get at the (alleged) perpetrator, and before you know what's happened you'll often end up effectively, however inadvertently, 'harming' the real victim instead...and thus letting the nasty so-and-so ultimately off scot-free (as his lawyers claim miscarriage of justice has occurred)...
But even were that to occur, there's One Who knows the real truth and Grace's killer will one day be held to account at His heavenly bar...where there will be no mistakes...and sentence will be final...and will involve 'judgement without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy'...and moreover, no remorse...
*At least in the (pertinent jurisdiction of the) United Kingdom, anyhow.
**Though I cringe at using such a word to in any way, shape or form characterize someone who - from all accounts - has such a sadistic and perverted understanding of what a human being is.
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