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Where have our standards gone?

Posted by: Michael Smith | 7 April, 2009 - 11:27 AM

Ho-hum. Another day, another unbelievable decision from a Queensland court. Most of us will glance at the paper, maybe shake our head and get on with life. We’ve just come to expect that our community will be treated with the absolute contempt some magistrates show us.

Dwane Daniel Morgan, 20 of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast is a grub. He faced 54 charges at the Maroochydore Magistrates’ Court yesterday. It took the police prosecutor Tony Hurley nearly 30 minutes to read the charges, including stealing, drug possession, breach of bail conditions, obstructing police, trespassing and the list goes on. Senior Sergeant Hurley told the court that the sheer number of offences was probably the most he had seen for a single offender in his long career.

He said, "In almost all my years at the bar table this is almost a record. His situation is very sad but the community cannot put up with this continuing. He is a person who must serve a period of imprisonment."

Bernadette Callaghan is the magistrate who heard the case. She gave the crook community service, ordered that he pay restitution for the goods he’d stolen and put him on probation for 2 years. Can you believe that - a one man crime spree over 15 months and he walks free from court.

Senior Sergeant Hurley is a servant of the community - he’s on our side. As the magistrate was reading out the sentence Senior Sergeant Hurley jumped to his feet to object to the leniency and to point out to the magistrate that the community demands better. He was pleading for this bloke to go to jail. But it was almost like the prosecutor was the one who had done wrong according to Her Worship the magistrate. She said this to the copper, "sit down and be quiet."

How would he feel about that? Some drug-addicted grub is going to walk after a one man crime spree, the copper jumps to his feet to put the public’s position to the magistrate and he’s treated like a naughty schoolboy.

Fair dinkum, isn’t it about time we stood up to this rubbish? Community standards come from our institutions including the magistracy. Any grub watching this case would think 'you beauty. We deserve better.

Blog comments

My great great Grandfather was Tthe hanging Judge Jeffries" of England what a shame he didn't appear in his court

Katina Wednesday 15 April, 2009 - 7:22 PM
With easter break are we turning into hippocrates in this country. Like it or not our country is christian based - historical fact - why do we appease minority ethnic groups - why are we ashamed of this. Australia is based also on parliamentary democracy, rule of law and freedom of speech.

Debbie Wednesday 8 April, 2009 - 4:30 PM
These magistrate's must live there life in there perfect world. My daughter worked two jobs so she could lay by and purchase her first television and stereo. After working hard she got these items delivered 6mths later. She only had the pleasure of this for one night. When she arrived home the next day after another day at hard work only to find both items were stolen. She was devastated.. I have taught my children to have respect for themselves and others. Dwane needs to be taught the same. He should hang his head in shame. Was he taught these simple skills of work hard and have respect for other people? If not he should be a better person than his parents or guardians that raised this man.. Shame on them,him and the magistrate..

Kerrie Stewart Tuesday 7 April, 2009 - 8:30 PM
I'm not surprised. Go to the court anyday of the week and see how the police are treated by this judiciary. I heard your comments today about when you were in the job and giving out tickets. Nothing has changed. Another example in CM today. Court penalty for DUI $100, speeding ticket $130. If this is the way we deal with traffic matters who is kidding who that we are 'tough' on crime. Maybe it's time there was a ticket for break and enter.

Paul Tuesday 7 April, 2009 - 7:44 PM
I guess the Magistrate gets "warm fuzzies" by condoning this person's 54 crimes? What other message could there be?

Kay Tuesday 7 April, 2009 - 5:40 PM
What a disgrace! GRUB GRUB GRUB! Why bother having the police go through the stress & intense hours of preparation to prosecute these scumbags only to have their hard work mocked by a judge who it would appear is out of touch with the REAL WORLD. Here's an idea, why don't we get the judges number & everytime a scumbag like this breaks the law we; society call her to deal with them, arrest them, prosecute them...only to have them released back onto the streets. The way our "out of touch" judicial system is I'm suprised Senior Sergeant Hurley wasn't sentenced to jail for his outburst!

These criminals need to be locked up to teach them a lesson!

Mal Tuesday 7 April, 2009 - 3:16 PM