National proposes scrapping right to silence in child murder cases

The National Party in New Zealand has proposed new legislation that would scrap the right to silence in cases involving child murder. Under the proposed law, adults who are present when a child is killed would face up to 10 years in prison if they refuse to speak to police.

The policy aims to address situations where multiple adults are present during a child's death but none provide information, hindering police investigations and the pursuit of justice. By introducing penalties for remaining silent, the proposal seeks to compel cooperation and accountability from individuals who have knowledge of fatal incidents involving children.