-
Related
Known as Christchurch's Murder House, the Wainoni address where Jason Somerville slaughtered and interred Tisha Lowry and his wife Rebecca was subject to three arson attempts. The fourth one, on Saturday, succeeded to the extent that the bulldozers were called in, and the structure demolished .
This was widely reported as a relief to a community that had been upset by a vile and demoralising saga.
I've nothing against the reports, or Christchurch mayor Bob Parker, who seems to be taking the temperature of some locals.
This from the Christchurch Press: 'Parker said the murders of Rebecca Somerville in August last year and Tisha Lowry in September, 2008, had traumatised the community.
"Like most people, I feel a huge sense of relief. It has been hanging over that community and every time someone walks past it is a reminder."'
As a reporter squeezed for time and space, I've repeated the words "traumatised" and "community" myself. But if I pause and think about them, my nostrils start to twitch. "Traumatised" is usually a synonym for "upset", which doesn't sound quite so grand. "Community" usually means "those with a sufficiently vested interest in this matter to have raised their voices", i.e. busybodies.
Let's remember that this "Murder House" was destroyed by criminals. Rather than an occasion for general relief, isn't it an assault on law and order?
When lawbreakers steal, rape and murder, we don't generally say they're acting in the public interest. Why should there be a nodding agreement that they've done everyone a favour by torching this building?
It's an attack on homes everywhere. Property rights have been incinerated. And please, don't tell me that the murderer and house owner Jason Somerville shouldn't profit from his crime. Of course he shouldn't. But nor should the mortgage holder suffer because it failed to realise it was entering a loan agreement with a killer.
The idea that these firebugs are liberating the suppressed aspirations of ordinary folk is populist fantasy. Criminals are the last people to turn to for justice. Just ask the next person who tries to beat you up because he wants your wallet.
There has been, so far as I can tell, no investigation into the predicament of the unidentified North Island couple who co-own the property. I can only hope they had excellent insurance.
Mayor Parker has been quoted as noting some uncertainty as to the property's ownership; issuing notices for clearance of the charred rubble would clarify this.
Um, relying on arsonists to clarify ownership sounds a teensy bit like "We had to destroy the village to save it."
Mass murderer David Grey's home at Aramoana was torched in similar fashion. This too was seen as a catharsis for a grieving "community". Listen, if you want catharsis, buy some hankies, go into a dark room (or stand on the front steps, I'm not prescriptive) and have a good cry. Find another way to walk home if the place "traumatises" you so much.
Don't pat criminals on the back. Your place may be next.
Read more of
Tim Wilson's blogs .
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
