A Christchurch mother is calling for changes to bereavement leave laws. 

Sheena Hemens’ 27-year-old daughter Lauren was killed in a car accident nearly three years ago. 

Hemens says grief kept her from working for months, but currently, the law only provides three days of leave. 

She’s launched a petition to increase minimum bereavement leave to 10 days, saying many people don’t realise how little time they get. 

Sheena joined John MacDonald to discuss her petition.

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A Christchurch mother is calling for changes to bereavement leave laws.&nbsp;
Sheena Hemens’ 27-year-old daughter Lauren was killed in a car accident nearly three years ago.&nbsp;
Hemens says grief kept her from working for months, but currently, the law only provides three days of leave.&nbsp;
She’s launched a petition to increase minimum bereavement leave to 10 days, saying many people don’t realise how little time they get.&nbsp;
Sheena joined John MacDonald to discuss her petition.
LISTEN ABOVE

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Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Sheena Hemens: Beyond Three Days Petition founder on why bereavement leave needs a rethink

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/87a8a59e-0ac7-46df-96f6-b45e0179946b/transcript

If you ever needed proof that victims of crime are taking a back seat to the criminals, this is it.

And if you ever needed proof that the parole board is out of touch with the rest of us, this is it.

Because on Tuesday this week, convicted rapist George Murphy Starling was released from Christchurch’s Rolleston Prison after serving just two years of a six year sentence.

Why’s that? Because the parole board doesn’t consider him to be an undue risk to the public.

This is a man who drugged and raped two women in Christchurch who has been released from prison after serving two years of a six year sentence.

It gets worse.

But the question we need to be asking ourselves is this:

When it comes to deciding whether to release a criminal from prison, what’s more important? Public safety or the amount of time they’ve spent behind bars?

In this particular case, there’s only one answer. Because I don’t give a damn whether this guy is considered to be a threat or not, which is what the parole board thinks and that’s why it’s let him out early.

I give a damn about the fact that he went to the home of two women. He was waiting for them when they returned from a 21st party. He poured them drinks, vodka laced with sedatives, and after they became incapacitated and went to bed, he went in and raped them.

That’s not the only shocking part of this.

Because he’s not just a two time rapist. He’s a three time rapist.

In 2013, the same guy was sentenced to five years for another rape and got out after two.

So we’ve got a three time rapist out of prison this week because the parole board doesn’t consider him to be an undue risk to the public.

As the judge said when he was sentencing this guy two years ago for raping the two women in their flat, the offending was pre meditated, with him arriving at their place with alcohol mixed with a drug.

The judge said: “These rapes took place inside their own home. They were entitled to feel safe and secure in their own beds.”

Can you imagine how this guy’s victims must be feeling right now?

Well, according to one report I’ve seen, one of them asked the parole board not to let him out because she doesn’t think he’s ready to be released.

At the time this monster was sentenced, one of his victims said it had changed her life forever. That gives us some idea how they’ll be feeling.

As for the rapist himself, he has told the parole board that he now understands what consent is and that he must get consent if he wants to have sex with someone.

For goodness sake. And that’s enough to let him out early after serving two years of a six year sentence?

He’s a monster who should still be behind bars and this decision by the parole board is nothing short of monstrous.

LISTEN ABOVE

If you ever needed proof that victims of crime are taking a back seat to the criminals, this is it.
And if you ever needed proof that the parole board is out of touch with the rest of us, this is it.
Because on Tuesday this week, convicted rapist George Murphy Starling was released from Christchurch’s Rolleston Prison after serving just two years of a six year sentence.
Why’s that? Because the parole board doesn’t consider him to be an undue risk to the public.
This is a man who drugged and raped two women in Christchurch who has been released from prison after serving two years of a six year sentence.
It gets worse.
But the question we need to be asking ourselves is this:
When it comes to deciding whether to release a criminal from prison, what’s more important? Public safety or the amount of time they’ve spent behind bars?
In this particular case, there’s only one answer. Because I don’t give a damn whether this guy is considered to be a threat or not, which is what the parole board thinks and that’s why it’s let him out early.
I give a damn about the fact that he went to the home of two women. He was waiting for them when they returned from a 21st party. He poured them drinks, vodka laced with sedatives, and after they became incapacitated and went to bed, he went in and raped them.
That’s not the only shocking part of this.
Because he’s not just a two time rapist. He’s a three time rapist.
In 2013, the same guy was sentenced to five years for another rape and got out after two.
So we’ve got a three time rapist out of prison this week because the parole board doesn’t consider him to be an undue risk to the public.
As the judge said when he was sentencing this guy two years ago for raping the two women in their flat, the offending was pre meditated, with him arriving at their place with alcohol mixed with a drug.
The judge said: “These rapes took place inside their own home. They were entitled to feel safe and secure in their own beds.”
Can you imagine how this guy’s victims must be feeling right now?
Well, according to one report I’ve seen, one of them asked the parole board not to let him out because she doesn’t think he’s ready to be released.
At the time this monster was sentenced, one of his victims said it had changed her life forever. That gives us some idea how they’ll be feeling.
As for the rapist himself, he has told the parole board that he now understands what consent is and that he must get consent if he wants to have sex with someone.
For goodness sake. And that’s enough to let him out early after serving two years of a six year sentence?
He’s a monster who should still be behind bars and this decision by the parole board is nothing short of monstrous.
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: This parole board decision beggars belief

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a0c34dc7-871a-49bd-bad9-b46000074396/transcript

Ahead of the Qualifying Finals round against the Blues, John MacDonald up with Crusaders Coach Rob Penney at Rugby Park.

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Ahead of the Qualifying Finals round against the Blues, John MacDonald up with Crusaders Coach Rob Penney at Rugby Park.
LISTEN ABOVE

Crusaders Coach Rob Penney ahead of Blues clash

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3ac0eea1-3871-4b63-be76-b45f018824b7/transcript

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Reuben Davidson joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. 

They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from early prison releases, the Pegasus Golf Course, and a petition gaining signatures to increase bereavement leave from three days to ten.

LISTEN ABOVE 

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Reuben Davidson joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.&nbsp;
They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from early prison releases, the Pegasus Golf Course, and a petition gaining signatures to increase bereavement leave from three days to ten.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Politics Friday: Matt Doocey and Reuben Davidson on Pegasus, prison releases, and bereavement leave

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/04932ed8-3976-4ba1-8336-b45f0175c6de/transcript

Sheena Hemens: Beyond Three Days Petition founder on why bereavement leave needs a rethink

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