Key open to 'Christie's Law' supporters' message

John Key has said he is open to take calls and suggestions after a mass rally was organised by Christie Marceau's parents outside the Auckland High Court yesterday.

The University of Auckland campus was filled with a crowd of around 800 protesters just meters away from the Auckland High Court, formed to protest the country’s current bail laws following the death of 18 year old Christie Marceau late last year.

Christie Marceau’s alleged murderer, who was also 18 at the time, had been bailed to an address within a mere kilometre from the Marceau residence after he had been tried for kidnapping her earlier in 2011.

The prime minister said that he had talked to the family of Christie Marceau, assuring them and the Sensible Sentencing Trust that the government would happily welcome their recommendations for new bail legislation.

Mr Key has said he told the family that if they made a submission to the select committee, his expectation would be that they would be considered, and he would be glad for them to be taken into account.

New Zealand Police were strong about their view to have the teenager’s kidnapper not be let out on bail, to which the judge decided otherwise.

On November 7, the man went on to stab Christie at her own residence, where she later died in the arms of her mother.

The man is currently before the Auckland High Court for charges related to murder and has had his name suppressed.

Today, supporters of ‘Christie Law’, a collective organisation aimed at fighting against the current bail laws being used in New Zealand, gathered around the Auckland University campus, protesting just meters down the road from the Auckland High Court where the man is being tried.

Supporters for the ‘Christie’s Law’ movement came from all different walks of life, with some members associated with the Sensible Sentencing Trust such as Ron Durham, who is “dismayed at the number of dangerous criminals let out on the streets.”

Mr Durham would like to see two things change, which include increased restrictions to bail laws and a need for increased transparency around the reason behind judges’ decisions.

Among many others fighting for the same changes, the rest of the crowd was made up by those who have had enough of seeing senseless murders go unpunished being displayed throughout the media.