Canterbury Mornings

Victim rights advocate Norm Withers told Chris Lynch the Government's decision to get rid of the Three strike law is devastating. His elderly mother was severely beaten in 1997. She was looking after her son's menswear store. Norm started a law-and-order petition that gained so many signatures it forced a referendum in 1999. The referendum, which proposed more support for victims of crime and heavier penalties for offenders, received overwhelming support, and forced further changes to the law.