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If no delay, there wouldn’t have been a media blitz

YOURSAY ‘NZ is not a crackpot nation with a failed justice system.’

 

Media blitz may affect fair trial, say Kiwi law experts

        

Malaccan: The fact that Malaysian military attache Muhammad Rizalman Ismail is undergoing psychiatric evaluations here speaks of a move to bar his return to New Zealand.

 

The findings, if anything, are worthless in NZ. It might however be used to say Rizalman needs treatment here and is not competent to stand trial in NZ.

 

Obviously the military establishment does not like to see one of its members sent back to face trial. In truth, no organisation would.

 

But the crime he is accused of is serious. The longer the government waits, the more heated the speculation and furore be. Then it would be difficult for Rizalman to get the fair trial he deserves.

 

No nation would like to surrender its citizen, much less a serviceman, to another country's justice system. But NZ is not a crackpot nation with a failed justice system.

 

Some may even argue Rizalman may get a fairer trial in NZ than in Malaysia if the powers-that-be were not happy with him.

 

Fair Play: Give the right-thinking people (from both Malaysia and New Zealand) a break.

 

All they expect is a fair hearing for both the accused and the victim. The fact that the accused managed to leave the country through a blunder from both sides only add to their anger.

 

Guilt is guilt. So how could public opinion alter that, especially in a nation like NZ?

 

I suppose what concerns the NZ authorities most is the perception is that they are not being fair to the accused if a heavier sentence is meted out. But what about justice for the victim?

 

Let's hope that the delay in extraditing Rizalman would not test the patience of the NZ government. They might be much smaller numerically, but not their resolve.

 

Who knows, their foreign minister might end up as a casualty too if the impasse is not resolved quickly.

                                           

Myrights: Well said. This is how mature, intelligent and fair people speak. They don't look at skin colour, nationality, religion, etc, but at the true merits of the case to be tried in the court of law.

 

Too much publicity naturally creates a bias and has the tendency to skew decisions. Compare this to some so-called leaders in Malaysia.

 

RZC: I think the NZ public have better sense than to be biased. This media publicity happens in sensational cases and this is surely one of them.

 

The jury will be properly vetted and directed, we hope, and the trial will take place in accordance with the law and all available evidence. The publicity will have no effect on this.

 

What's the problem? I see none.

 

I Wonder?: Like it or not, the way the matter is being handled by the NZ government is for sure causing huge damage to the political careers of the NZ prime minister and foreign minister.

 

How stupid they were for trying to help Malaysia to cover it up initially? Only in Bolehland would this happen.

 

Nil: Rizalman should voluntarily go back to NZ so as to take up the chance to talk and explain his actions on that day. Tell your side of the story.

 

Take the chance to clear your name, as otherwise, you are guilty as charged. Or were you forced to return to Malaysia by embassy officers against your wishes?

 

Waktamnoko: In the Western nations, there is big money to be made in cases like this. So Billingsley, too, was no different.

 

By coming out in the open and 'forgoing her court protection' she was in fact positioning herself for a future lucrative contract with book publishers or even film makers. It has happened before and it will happen again.

 

Fair&Just: More than two months after the attack and where is the alleged culprit now?

 

Imagine the frustration, humiliation and anger suffered. Plus the dubious handling of judicious matters in Bohongland like the cases of Altantuya Shaariibuu, Teoh Beng Hock, etc, etc, are precedents of gross mishandling and injustice.

 

So what will you do if you are the victim?

 

Bury Lynas: These are some of the ways a criminal could evade the laws. For the rapist, fake insanity, don't know the victim, not at rape scene, erection not possible, mutual consent, victim seduce him and the verdict is "victim raped herself" or forced to rape herself.

 

Haveagreatday: It may well be so that alleged attempted rape victim Tonia Billingsley has jeopardised her own case, but it is her call. And I fully support her actions.

 

She must have been really disgusted with the way her government handled the case and feared  Rizalman may get away with that psychiatric treatment nonsense from our Defence Ministry.

 

Silas Jugdip: If the issue had not been deliberately delayed, then the media blitz wouldn't be like what it is now.


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