Adverse Effects From Tasers Study

No Short Term Adverse Effects From Tasers: Study

A "new study" shows "no adverse short term effects" from Taser user on healthy people.

Auckland Barrister and spokesperson for New Zealand's Campaign Against the Taser, Marie Dyhrberg said this research, conducted by University of California, has glaring omissions, as it failed to explore long-term effects of taser use or how it has affected some with heart conditions, pacemakers or on drugs.

BustedInfo also questions the effect having the paralysing weapon has on police tactics and how it may affect public attitudes toward the police.

Three-month drugs trial

Three-month drugs trial takes its toll - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

A drugs trial, possibly the longest and most expensive in New Zealand history is going on at the High Court and has done so since February 12 and every working day since.

Defence lawyer Marie Dyhrberg said any very long trial put a huge pressure on jurors and could seriously impact on the potential pool of jurors because many could simply not afford to take that time off for a variety of reasons.

The trial has 10 defendents represented by 14 defence lawyers.

Marie Dyhrberg said that the increased maximum sentences for Class A drug offenses set the bar so high that defendents were not pleading guilty or negotiating when they should and some sentences for drug crimes exceed those of violent crime.

She said some of the offenders at the lower end of the scale of seriousness were also getting significant sentences, particularly when compared with other offences unrelated to drug offending such as a serious attack where someone was seriously hurt.

"Quite properly, they may well get five years for that but someone who is on the lower end of the conspiracy (drugs) chain may well get eight or nine years.

"In my professional view as a lawyer the sentences for drug offending are too high," she said.

When the maximum penalty for some offences is increased to life in prison with no other ability to impose lesser charges, she predicted it would bog down the courts and lead to long trials.

She also said there was no provision to obtain a sentencing indication in the High Court, as there was in the District Court. That could also influence a defendant in a decision about a guilty plea.