Kevin McNeil says National's proposed victim compensation scheme would help bring some fairness to a system that is heavily weighed in favour of the offender. Photo / Dean Purcell
Kevin McNeil says it has cost his family about $15,000 since his mother Lois Dear was murdered in her Tokoroa classroom nearly two years ago.
A large part of the sum was for her funeral, but other bills such as accommodation and travelling from his home in the
Coromandel to Tokoroa to deal with the death, and then later for the killer's numerous court appearances, added to the expense.
While Mr McNeil is at pains to express that no amount of money can make up for the loss of a life, he supports National's proposed victim compensation scheme.
He says it would help bring some fairness to a system that is heavily weighed in favour of the offender.
Mr McNeil said ACC covered about half of the cost of his mother's funeral, and Victim Support helped with motel costs on two occasions and supplied $1500 for other costs.
However, the indirect costs of his mother's death were still great.
"We did over 10 trips back and forward to Tokoroa during the week of mum's murder, then there was all the court cases ... So there were about another six or seven trips there.
"We are still struggling now."
Preparing a victim impact statement and taking time for the sentencing meant Mr McNeil had to take three days off work.
He says his concern is not about the loss of money, but that the entire process costs victims while the offenders - especially ones with little or no assets - don't have to pay a thing.
Mr McNeil said he would like to see a lump sum available for victims of crime similar to overseas where people get $50,000.
"I really hate talking about payouts ... but you have got to look at the legal aid for offenders. Look at the people who commit the crime and how they are looked after. You get a pittance of what they get.
"I'm really pleased [what] John Key has come out and done. If he gets in and can implement [the policy] then I think he will get a big tick from all New Zealanders."
