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 was sentencing an Indigenous 17-year-old in the Taree District Court, on NSW’s mid north coast, when she invited him to perform the acknowledgment of land ceremony last month, 2GB’s Ben Fordham reported.
The boy had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the homes of a 92-year-old woman and an 88-year-old woman, and sexually touching the younger woman.
Judge Wass had reportedly told the boy she would be happy for him to perform a Welcome to Country over any other court she presided over, Fordham said.
The boy was released on parole given time already served behind bars.
Fordham said Judge Wass had a ‘shocker’ by allowing a criminal the opportunity to perform a Welcome to Country during sentencing.
‘This is the bloke who was about to be sentenced, he was pleading guilty to terrorising elderly ladies in their own homes,’ Fordham said on Friday morning.
‘The offender was given the floor and handed 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 NSW ‘s mid north coast, when she invited him to perform a Welcome to Country
A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by Indigenous groups as an acknowledgement to the land in which the event is being hosted on
‘Judge Penelope Wass thought it appropriate to have the offender welcome her to her own court. The law is supposed to be blind, skin colour shouldn’t 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.
At the time, Arthur Moses SC, who is in a relationship with former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, described Judge Wass as one of the ‘most diligent, thorough and investigative female practitioners – one who readily accepted the most challenging cases in search of the truth’.
‘No detail was too small to escape your Honour’s attention,’ he said.
During Judge Wass’ career, she also worked as the 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
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