Editorial: Your taxes paid for this case

Mark Dawson

Denise Lockett, witness/victim for the prosecution, described the Chester Borrows' court case as a "piece of theatre".

She is right. It was a theatrical performance in which she was happy to play a part.

Political motivation provided some of the fuel behind her, and fellow witness/victim Tracey Treadwell's desire to see the wheels of justice in action.

The two women were hit by Mr Borrows' car when they took part in an anti-Trans Pacific Partnership agreement protest outside the Collegiate Motor Inn last March.

They took their protest to the motor inn precisely because Mr Borrows and Minister Paula Bennett were at a business breakfast meeting there.

When Mr Borrows drove from the meeting, they were keen to get in his face, moving in front of the car ... maybe they even "sped up".

Guilty of putting themselves in harm's way.

In finding Mr Borrows not guilty, Judge Stephanie Edwards said his failure to stop -- the car crawled slowly forward despite the protesters in the way -- was not careless.

I think many would agree that the Whanganui MP should have stopped and waited for police to clear the way.

Guilty of not stopping.

Police officers watching a potentially dangerous situation unfold outside the motor inn were slow off the mark.

They should have kept the protesters back and the exit clear for the car to pass.

Guilty of "idling"on duty.

Two days and a chunk of taxpayer money later, a case that probably could and should have been resolved in five minutes months ago has come to an end.