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The Sensible Sentencing Trust says although Act MP David Garrett's actions of identity theft are "inexcusable", his present commitment to law and order "should not go unnoticed".
Garrett yesterday admitted to using a dead baby's identity to obtain a passport 26 years ago.
He said he used a method made known in the novel Day Of The Jackal, and obtained the birth certificate of a child obtained around the time Garrett was born, but who died in infancy.
Garrett has previously worked for the Sensible Sentencing lobby group on a voluntary basis. According to Trust policy, Garrett was required to resign as their legal advisor when he decided to become a political candidate in 2008.
Trust spokesperson Garth McVicar said he had known of the stolen identity incident as early as 2004.
In a statement this afternoon, the Trust said they acknowledged the "tremendous hurt" caused to the family of the baby whose identity was stolen.
They went on to say they recognised people make mistakes in their lives and "most put those mistakes behind them and become law abiding citizens".
McVicar told TV ONE's Breakfast today that his reaction to the incident was one of "shock" and "surprise", but he was prepared to overlook it.
"Obviously I felt for the family involved but it was 26 years ago...[but] the David that I'd known since 2001 had done a lot of good work so we were prepared to take him on that - what he'd done for the victims that we work for."
It was McVicar who initially introduced Garrett to Act Party leader Rodney Hide, but he stopped short of saying that he recommended Garrett to Hide as a potential List MP.
He said that he still believes Garrett deserves another chance and is continuing to support him.
"I still believe he's got a lot to offer, he's not stupid even though he's done a stupid act...he's obviously got his law degree since this stupid act."
McVicar said that the criminal justice system encouraged people to hide their past, and that was something that Sensible Sentencing was working to change.
Asked whether he thought that Garrett should resign McVicar was adamant: "It's not my call, but no, I don't."