Brenda Power

But when, A, you give this testimonial for somebody in a sexual offence case, and B, you don't make any reference to the victim or

I really do think that those testimonials, A, should be questioned, possibly banned, but certainly should be publicised.

And how do you think the political system has reacted to this?

Because all of the party leaders have said, as far as we're aware, this person is not a member of our party.

Like, what more can they do or would you expect them to do?

I don't know what more they can do when we have to take their word for it that they don't know who this person is.

This person has not come forward, doesn't seem to be going to, and the court is not willing to name them.

So that may, as you say, require a further change that, look, if you're prepared to make this statement, you should be prepared to be named.

And it should be the case that this is done in open court because, you know, as we know, justice doesn't just have to be done, it has to be seen to be done.

And all the participants should be identified, obviously, except for the victims in these cases.

And of course, in sexual offences too, the accused are not named until there's a conviction in most cases.

But once this is a case where somebody has been convicted, these testimonials are never requested until somebody has been convicted and it's in mitigation of sentencing.

So are you saying then that it's time to ban these character references altogether when you're dealing with a sexual offence?

Someone convicted, as you say, and that's an important distinction, convicted of a sexual offence, that really there is no place for a character reference at that point in proceedings?

I don't think there is because you cannot say...

That you knew this person in that capacity.

Clearly, these are stealthy, sneaky offences that are committed in secret.

And for someone to say, well, as far as I know him, he's a great fella, is irrelevant, really.

Your opinion of him is irrelevant.

You clearly did not know this person.