Anger at 14-year strike 2 warning

 Anger?  From who??  What for??

Let's get this straight.  A petty crim named Elijah Akeem Whaanga mugs people on two separate occasions.  At least one of which was following his first strike warning.  He gets a subsequent second strike warning.  To quote Judge Tony Adeane:

"When you next steal a hat or a cellphone or a jacket or a skateboard you will be sent to the High Court and there you will be sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment without parole."

There you have it.  Second warning issued.  Case closed.  Game over.

21 year old Elijah Akeem Whaanga take note - it's prison for you for a very long time the next time you offend.  It's my guess this won't be long, because you haven't learned anything from your previous court appearances.

Let's learn a little more about this low-life:

"Whaanga's offending stretches back to 2006, including burglary, theft, resisting arrest and indecent assault. He served a short prison sentence in early 2010.

In July that year, he and an accomplice committed aggravated robbery. Whaanga punched the victim in the head multiple times before taking $68. For that he earned his first strike in December 2010 and was sentenced to jail for two years and one month.

He was freed on parole in April last year. The Parole Board said he had behaved well in prison, where he had resided in the Maori Focus Unit. He had completed a drug programme and a Maori therapeutic programme and was released on a number of conditions for six months.

Four months later he committed two aggravated robberies with two separate accomplices.
The first involved taking a skateboard, hat and cigarette lighter from the victim after trying unsuccessfully to remove the victim's jacket. The second involved Whaanga kicking the victim in the back of his leg and taking his hat and cellphone.

Whaanga pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated robbery and was sentenced in Napier District Court on April 18"

Victoria University Professor of Criminology John Pratt asked: "Was this really the type of offender that the three strikes law was meant to protect us from?"

Um.... YES!

14 years jail with no parole.  Hahahahaha!  I feel safer already!


Story:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8605255/Anger-at-14-year-strike-2-warning