Penelope Wass: Judge invites violent teen to do welcome to country in court before his sentencing

A NSW district court judge has been blasted after she invited a teenage criminal appearing before her to be sentenced over violent home invasions to give a welcome to country in the middle of her courtroom.

Judge Penelope Wass was presiding over Taree District Court last month when she made the bizarre invitation.

The 17-year-old teen had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the homes of a 92-year-old and an 88-year-old woman — who he also admitted to sexually touching. The elderly women were left traumatised.

The incident was revealed on 2GB by host Ben Fordham, who described it as a sign the legal system was “stuffed”.

“This violent offender was facing some extremely serious charges,” he said.

“He was about to learn his fate, but before getting down to business, he’s invited to give a welcome to country. Judge Penelope must have been a fan of his work because she told the court she was happy for him to give a welcome to country in any court she presided over.

“This is the bloke who is about to be sentenced. He was pleading guilty for terrorising elderly ladies in their own homes.

“The offender was given the floor and handed the privilege of performing a welcome to country in the middle of a courtroom in Taree just as he was about to be sentenced.”

A welcome to country usually occurs at the beginning of a formal event and can take many forms including singing, dancing, smoking ceremonies, and/or a speech.

It is performed by traditional owners, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have been given permission from traditional owners, to welcome visitors to their country.

Judge Wass, who elected to sentence the teen as a child rather than an adult, released the teenager on parole given time already served behind bars.

Fordham said senior NSW legal figures had told him they had never seen anything like it and were “shaking their heads”.

NSW shadow attorney-general Alister Henskens said it was entirely inappropriate.

“The idea that a prisoner in the dock would be elevated to a de facto officer of the court and perform a ceremony on behalf of the court is not something that I’ve ever heard of and seems to me to be entirely inappropriate.

“It’s a privilege to perform something like that. It should not be offered to someone who is a criminal who’s pleaded guilty and is about to be sentenced — and then to top it all off at the end, the judge says look if you’d like to come back and do it again in the future.”

Judge Wass and the NSW District Court have been contacted for comment.