Southern View: November 08, 2016

8
Tuesday November 8 2016
SOUTHERN VIEW
News
Judge writes children’s book
From the
courtroom
to the
classroom
• By Bridget Rutherford
A CHRISTCHURCH judge
and author visited St Martins
Primary School to share his first
book with them.
Hunstbury resident Judge
Rob Murfitt went to the school
recently to read Claire and the
Weka.
He said it was a special place
to share the book because his
children went to the school and
he used to be on the board of
trustees.
It is Judge Murfitt’s job to try
and see the world through the
eyes of children. He has been a
judge for more than 10 years,
mostly working in the Family
Court.
Before that, he represented
children in family disputes.
The book has been published
under the name Robbie James –
Judge Murfitt’s given names. It is
about a young girl who gets her
favourite teddy stolen by a weka.
She enlists the help of a boy to
CHANGE: Judge Rob Murfitt with his new children’s book, Claire and the Weka. (Inset) He read
the book to St Martins Primary School pupils recently.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
get it back.
Judge Murfitt said the book,
which is illustrated by Sunset,
was a true story about his
daughter, Claire, from a family
holiday in the Marlborough
Sounds about 30 years ago.
“There’s little lessons about
helping other people and being
grateful.”
He said it was inspired by his
granddaughter Eva, who loved
hearing the story so much, he
thought others might too.
Judge Murfitt said writing the
book helped him with his day job.
“In a sense, it helps to keep you
able to see the world through
children’s eyes,” he said.
“When we’re dealing with
disputes about parenting, the law
says that we have to look at the
welfare of the children.
“It’s the child’s rights, it’s the
child’s needs that come first and
so I suppose in the daily routine
of dealing with disputes, you do
get used to doing that.”
It also helped him keep a good
balance in life, he said.
“Whether it’s in the Family
Court or the criminal court,
you’re dealing with people in
crisis almost all the time, so
the uncomplicated innocence
of writing children’s books
is a really nice contrast with
that.”
Although Judge Murfitt spends
most of his time in Family
Court, he also does a share
of the criminal jurisdiction –
and has been known to use a
more personalised approach to
sentencing when appropriate.
Back in 2007, a 17-year-old
appeared before him in the
Hawera District Court on
a disorderly behaviour charge.
“He was a young man who was
heading off the rails but he was
waiting to join the army. A conviction
was going to delay him
for three months. The army was
just what he needed and a delay
was not going to help anyone.”
So Judge Murfitt sent him on
a run accompanied by police – if
he could do it in under an hour,
he would be discharged.
“The court was in uproar
cheering him on.”
Turns out his parents were
marathon runners, he said, and
sure enough he made it and was
discharged without conviction.
“I know that he’s done really
well since then. He served
overseas, settled down and he’s
living a good, pre-social life.
“The whole drive of sentencing
is to (a) keep the public
protected, but (b) to reduce the
offender’s risk of re-offending
and returning to court. Getting
particular young men on track is
best for the community.”
THE HOME OF GOOD BAKING
PREMIUM
BREAD
White, wholemeal, grain & honey.
3 FOR
$
5 00
TAN SLICE
Timeless tan
slice with sweet
base, topped
with caramel
and crumble -
our version has
ONLY
choc chips. $
3 49
EA
ALL BREAD ROLL
PACKS
(Excludes dinner
rolls.)
2 FOR
$
3 98
PURCHASE 2 x 2L DAIRY DALE MILK TO ENTER
THE DRAW TO WIN A VW POLO CAR!
Promotion valid 1st - 30th November 2016.
Winner will be notified Friday 9th December
2016. Terms & conditions apply. Full terms &
conditions can be found at www.couplands.co.nz
MILK
Dairy Dale 2L varieties.
$
5 98
2 FOR or $3.19 each
SUPER CHOC CHIP
FAMILY PACK BISCUITS
$
4 99
EA
Promotional pricing available while stocks last from 07/11/16 to 13/11/16.
Images are serving suggestions only.
Open 7 days | 8 Convenient local locations
Hornby • Barrington • Ferry Rd • Papanui • Riccarton • Upper Riccarton • New Brighton • Rangiora
BAKERIES
www.couplands.co.nz