Victim sets up name-and-shame website
13 June 2005
By ANNA WALLIS
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FED UP: Karate expert Steve Elers has identified and threatened a man he claims vandalised his car on a name-and-shame website because he is sick of crime.
A karate expert has identified and threatened a man he claims vandalised his car on a name-and-shame website because he is sick of crime. Steve Elers of Palmerston North said he saw the man named on the website hurl a rock through his car on Thursday night while working late at the karate school he runs in Main Street. He chased the man down the street, calling 111 at the same time. He caught up with the alleged offender in Lyndhurst Street as the same time the police arrived and arrested the man, he said.
Mr Elers said he then got details of the man’s life and posted the information within 24 hours on a specially created website. Mr Elers said he has no problems giving the man’s full name on the website, showing pictures of where he lives, identifying the man’s car through its number plate and where his parents live, before a court case. He is unrepentant about the threats made to the alleged offender on the website, despite being a martial arts professional.
“While you’re waiting for your court appearance, you can download some of my fight videos so you know what is coming should we ever meet down a dark alley,” Mr Elers says on the website. Mr Elers is a former chief instructor of the Palmerston North Shito-Ryu Karate Academy and now runs the Elers Karate Academy. The name-and-shame website has links to footage of Mr Elers competing in karate events. He said he hasn’t discussed the website with the police.
"But police have told me he’ll just get diversion anyway. Crime is out of control in Palmerston North and we have gone far too soft on people. “I want this guy to learn he chose the wrong person. I’m not going to put up with it.” Mr Elers says he doesn’t care about making the threats on the website. "I wouldn’t kill him. If I had caught him I would have just given him a slapping. I saw him do this to my car. The shattered glass went all over my daughter’s baby car seat.
"What say she gets cut by a piece of glass I miss cleaning up. “People have to start accepting responsibility for their actions. Karate teaches confidence, self discipline and effort. What I am doing doesn’t go against that.” Mr Elers said his car had been broken into on numerous occasions previously. "On Tuesday I was nearly killed by a car that went through a stop sign on Victoria Avenue at 120 kmh, being chased by the police.
“In 1952 there was two murders. Last year there was 99 and the population hasn’t grown that much. Crime is out of control.” With the ban on alcohol in The Square, Mr Elers said much of the drinking had moved to around his premises on Main Street and other shops had experienced vandalism. Mr Elers said the man named on his site is due to appear in court on Thursday and he will attend the hearing. Media law specialist Peter McKnight said people have the right to express their opinions on the web and the freedom to continue to express such opinions should remain.
He said the website could be seen as prejudicial in a court case if it contained material that was excluded from the court hearing. "Sites could also list other crimes an offender might have committed, which would be prejudicial. “Or generally, any information being on the site could be construed as not allowing a fair trial.”