Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
Deaf league player jailed - Taranaki Daily News: local, national & world news from Taranaki's daily newspaper
District Court Judge Allan Roberts was almost moved to tears yesterday over the lack of support for a deaf remand prisoner.
Taranaki rugby league representative Wiremu Parker has been on remand for months awaiting sentence for a vicious assault on his aunty in February.
The 22-year-old, also known as Wiremu Raana, is a deaf mute. His defence lawyer, Turitea Bolstad, has had the matter adjourned several times as she sought assistance from various agencies for counselling for Parker.
She told the New Plymouth District Court yesterday that it had taken five months just to get Parker assessed.
"He has not been given the services he has been entitled to," she said.
"I have struggled to get what I would submit are the bare essentials in regard to assistance for this young man."
Judge Roberts said the case, which had troubled him for weeks, had almost moved him to tears. "I'm lost for words that we can't find some place, somewhere, that you might get the guidance or assistance to help with the areas of your life that there are problems."
Parker, who made his provincial debut as an 18-year-old, had admitted a charge of injuring with intent. It followed a prolonged attack on his aunty that involved several punches to her face.
In an emotional address to the court, Parker's mother, Maureen Parker, said the system had just passed the buck. "Sign language is an official language of New Zealand and he deserved to be counselled by an appropriate sign counsellor. I just hope he gets the help he desperately needs." Ms Bolstad said finding funding, or the people to assess Parker while he was in jail, was extremely difficult.
Crown prosecutor Justin Marinovich said Parker's disability could be taken into account in sentencing, but it should not have a huge influence. He asked for a jail sentence of between 12 and 18 months.
Judge Roberts sentenced Parker to nine months' jail.
District Court Judge Allan Roberts was almost moved to tears yesterday over the lack of support for a deaf remand prisoner.
Taranaki rugby league representative Wiremu Parker has been on remand for months awaiting sentence for a vicious assault on his aunty in February.
The 22-year-old, also known as Wiremu Raana, is a deaf mute. His defence lawyer, Turitea Bolstad, has had the matter adjourned several times as she sought assistance from various agencies for counselling for Parker.
She told the New Plymouth District Court yesterday that it had taken five months just to get Parker assessed.
"He has not been given the services he has been entitled to," she said.
"I have struggled to get what I would submit are the bare essentials in regard to assistance for this young man."
Judge Roberts said the case, which had troubled him for weeks, had almost moved him to tears. "I'm lost for words that we can't find some place, somewhere, that you might get the guidance or assistance to help with the areas of your life that there are problems."
Parker, who made his provincial debut as an 18-year-old, had admitted a charge of injuring with intent. It followed a prolonged attack on his aunty that involved several punches to her face.
In an emotional address to the court, Parker's mother, Maureen Parker, said the system had just passed the buck. "Sign language is an official language of New Zealand and he deserved to be counselled by an appropriate sign counsellor. I just hope he gets the help he desperately needs." Ms Bolstad said finding funding, or the people to assess Parker while he was in jail, was extremely difficult.
Crown prosecutor Justin Marinovich said Parker's disability could be taken into account in sentencing, but it should not have a huge influence. He asked for a jail sentence of between 12 and 18 months.
Judge Roberts sentenced Parker to nine months' jail.