Time was when I used to be paid more per hour to prosecute a driving charge than defend a murder. Although I accept that money paid no part in the Rotorua decision, why do we continue to run the prosecution system in such a bizarre way? Both defendants were equally responsible for their total failure to seek the medical attention that might have saved Moko's life. The prosecutor knows the only way to get rid of the surplus is to offer some defendants a reduction of the charge in exchange for a guilty plea. Finally, for Attorney-General Chris Finlayson to say that plea-bargaining does not occur in the judicial system is plain wrong.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 27, 2016 17:02 UTC