2009-02-23

Australian Judge Blames Alcohol And The Victims Instead Of Looking Inward For Real Cause Of Aboriginal Problems

by Emily Watkins


A TERRITORY judge has called for an end to a ready supply of alcohol available at Tennant Creek. 

Justice Trevor Riley, who was sentencing a man who broke his wife's jaw in two places after she hit him with a can of corned beef, said a hard decision needed to be made.

"For the good of the town, for the good of the victims, for the good of the offenders and for the good of the innocent children of Tennant Creek, it seems obvious to me that a system must be devised to limit the amount of alcohol made available to the people whose lives are being devastated in this way," he said.

Eugene Green, 45, pleaded guilty to unlawfully causing serious harm in the Northern Territory Supreme Court at Alice Springs.

Justice Riley said the offence was "another depressing example of drunken violence within a relationship between Aboriginal people who are living in Tennant Creek".

During an argument over food, the victim hit Green in the face with a can of corned beef, and then he kicked her twice in the jaw with his foot while she was sitting on the floor.

Justice Riley said most domestic violence in Tennant Creek happened when the victim and offender were both drunk.

"The violence often occurs for the flimsiest of reasons and is a response out of all proportion to the circumstances which give rise to the assault," he said. "It seems plain that something must be done to curb the level of alcohol consumption in Tennant Creek."

Green was sentenced to serve two years in prison, with a non-parole period of 12 months.

No comments:

Post a Comment