The government, the police, and the courts keep telling us that domestic violence is unacceptable. Unless, apparently, you're rich:
A Te Papa manager has escaped conviction for a "degrading" assault on his pregnant former partner after claiming it would hamper his international travel for the museum.Pretty much. If Osborne had been poor, he would almost certainly have been convicted. Refusing to do so in a serious case like this effectively denies the crime. There is a place for discharge without conviction, but I don't think this is it.Noel James Osborne, 47, is a collections manager of Maori artefacts. In a video on Te Papa's website in which he presents the museum's collection of taiaha, he says he is a carver.
Women's Refuge chief executive Heather Henare said Osborne's discharge without conviction reeked of double standards. "Effectively what this says is it is OK if you happen to be in a privileged position."
