METHAMPHETAMINE TRIALS CLOGGING COURTS

A huge increase in the number of people awaiting trial for
methamphetamine-related crimes is clogging the country's court system.

Chief High Court judge Tony Randerson said today hundreds of people
accused of serious crimes involving the Class A drug were awaiting
trial in the High Court.

"It has impacted very seriously on our ability to hear criminal cases
promptly," he told Radio New Zealand.

Justice Randerson said the High Court had a waiting list of 40 people
for murder or attempted murder trials who needed to have their cases
heard as soon as possible.

"Justice delayed is justice denied. In criminal trials in particular,
the Bill of Rights Act means a prompt trial is required," he said.

If delays continued it might be necessary to order a stay of criminal
trials that were delayed too long, he said.

"And that would not be in the public interest."

Ministry of Justice figures show a 90 per cent increase in the number
of methamphetamine cases in the High Court since 2004.

The drug was upgraded from a Class B drug to Class A in 2003.

Auckland District Law Society president Gary Gottlieb told Radio New
Zealand that young remand prisoners could turn into hardened
criminals while waiting for their cases to be heard.

"You sometimes have cases when someone comes in as a 19-year-old, by
the time they turn 21 they are a different person," he said.

Ministry of Justice spokeswoman Liz Sinclair said efforts were being
made to cut the backlog, including appointing more high court judges,
hiring more registry staff and updated court technology.