A district court judge allowed a teenage boy who broke into the homes of two elderly women to perform a Welcome to Country during his sentencing.
Judge Penelope Wass sentenced an Indigenous 17-year-old in the Taree District Court, on the NSW north coast, when she invited him to perform the recognition of land ceremony last month. Ben Fordham from 2GB reported.
The boy had pleaded guilty to breaking into the homes of a 92-year-old and an 88-year-old woman and sexually touching the younger woman.
Judge Wass allegedly told the boy she would like him to perform a Welcome to Country over any other court she presided over, Fordham said.
The boy was released on parole because he had already been behind bars for some time.
Fordham said Judge Wass had a “shocker” by giving a criminal the opportunity to perform a Welcome to Country during sentencing.
“This is the guy who was about to be sentenced, he pleaded guilty to terrorizing elderly ladies in their own home,” Fordham said Friday morning.
‘The perpetrator was given the floor and was given the privilege of performing a Welcome to Country in the middle of a courtroom.
Judge Penelope Wass (pictured) was sentencing an Indigenous 17-year-old in the Taree District Court, on the NSW north coast, when she invited him to a Welcome to Country song.
A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by indigenous groups in recognition of the country where the event is hosted
‘Judge Penelope Wass thought it was appropriate that the perpetrator welcomed her into her own court. The law should be blind, skin color should not matter.”
Judge Wass and the NSW District Court have been contacted for comment.
Judge Wass was sworn in as a Judge of the District Court of NSW in April 2016.
Arthur Moses SC, who is dating former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, described Judge Wass at the time as one of the “most diligent, thorough and investigative female practitioners – one who willingly took on the most challenging cases in search of the truth.” ‘.
“No detail was too small to escape Your Honor’s notice,” he said.
During Judge Wass’s career, she also served as a Commonwealth DPP and senior member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Judge Wass (pictured centre) was sworn in as a Judge of the District Court of NSW in April 2016
