Leading from the front issuu

PAT ON MEETING
STEWART MURRAY WILSON
Here we have an example of Pat walking the talk, the inimitable foot soldier, where he
applies principles of compassion and forgiveness, the principles of Restorative Justice —
in the real world, and in real time.
“Michael Laws, mayor of Whanganui, was the first to call
Stewart Murray Wilson the Beast of Blenheim — Laws
didn’t want Wilson in the city. I’d never talked to a human
beast before and wondered what that would be like. I got
in touch with Corrections and asked whether I could visit
Wilson and when I got the green light, I went over. The
place where Wilson stayed was well managed, there was
a long list of instructions, and the visits would be supervised.
Wilson had already done 21 years inside. He was
intelligent and I could see there were two sides to him.
“I visited him over a five year period. We fished together
down at the wharf and Wilson baited my hook
for me. His minders had to conceal him give him recreation
time and if there was any trouble, with the public
getting stroppy about him being out in the community,
gang members would often support him. Wilson appreciates
people visiting him and he wants to make a
good impression. There’s not much conversation with
his minders and there’s nothing stimulating going on for
him. Contrast that with Scandinavian guards, who act
more as mentors and guides.
“I wanted to find out what went wrong for Murray. I
talked to his mother in Temuka and several women he’d
been in relationships with. It seemed he was rejected at
birth. He was a loose cannon but not as bad as Corrections
often implied. I could understand the staff being
nervous though. They probably feared that if there was
a breach under their watch they would lose their jobs.
“Wilson was a brilliant gardener. He grew a lot of vegetables
and gave a lot away. Several groups offered opportunities
for him; the Quakers contacted Corrections
and asked whether he could garden at their settlement
but this wasn’t allowed. We suggested Wilson walk parts
of the long trail with us, on Te Araroa Offers Hope, but
that was turned down too.
“When Michael Laws was in full retribution mode
about Wilson, a member of the public wrote in to the
Whanganui Chronicle, saying perhaps the city’s notorious
prisoner needed help, rather than ostracisation. The
editor at the time, Merania Karauria, agreed with this
and continued to try and educate about Restorative Justice
models whenever there was coverage on Wilson.
“I think the community should visit and support Wilson
more. He was having a battle with the Catholic church
one time when I was there. The women in the church
were prepared to accept him but he wouldn’t confess
his sins. There’s no doubt he’d been damaged. He had
received beatings as a child and had been given shock
treatment at a number of psychiatric hospitals throughout
the country.
“Steve Trelour of Whanganui PARS [Prisoners Aid &
Rehabilitation Service] has a lot of wisdom and PARS
staff are keen to support Wilson, as were Corrections
staff in general but the system as it is prevents any innovation.
A fresh approach is needed to heal this broken
system. Steve says, “It’s much better to make inmates
into taxpayers who benefit the economy instead of
draining it”.
Above: Pat thinks more people should visit Stewart Murray Wilson.
Restorative Justice – for an unjust justice system 163