NSW: Gang rape victims could be murdered - DPP

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2001
NSW: Gang rape victims could be murdered - DPP

The state's chief prosecutor has warned that victims of gang rape could be murdered
if offenders were sentenced to life imprisonment as proposed by the New South Wales government.

Director of Public Prosecutions NICHOLAS COWDERY says he is opposed to increasing the
maximum penalty for gang rapists and warns it could place victims at greater risk.

He told ABC TV that one of the risks in prescribing life imprisonment is that people
committing those offences have nothing to lose.

He says they may take steps to eliminate victims as witnesses, thus making life more
dangerous for potential victims.

Mr COWDERY says in his view 20 years' maximum penalty is sufficient to address this
type of criminality.





Premier BOB CARR has said he will introduce legislation to enable the judiciary to
increase the penalty for gang rapists and other violent offenders from 20 years to life
imprisonment when parliament resumes next week.

AAP RTV sal/jas

KEYWORD: GANGS COWDERY (SYDNEY)

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