Inadequate sentence

Hugh Soper’s sentence is unbelievable

(Unprovoked attack leaves Wellington bar owners with permanent injuries, Nov 27).

Seven months’ home detention for his violent attack on an older New Zealander, including stomping on his head, simply beggars belief.

If this violent attack had happened in the 1960s, Soper would have been sentenced to a lengthy jail term. Back then, there was considerable peer pressure from the public that prevented any man engaging in an unfair fight. And kicking a defenceless person on the ground was an absolute no-no.

But since then, we have seen New Zealand society become immune to, and tolerant of, appalling levels of violence.

Soper’s sentencing does not reflect, in the slightest, society’s expectation that a sentence should place considerable peer pressure on the offender, and other wouldbe offenders, that there is zero tolerance for such offending. Nowadays, violent offenders aren’t left truly fearful of the sentence they may face.

The Crown should show a determined zeal of zero tolerance against this violent crime by appealing this grossly inadequate sentence.

Warren Taylor, Johnsonville [abridged]