Deputy gets off with "minor breach of conduct"

Friday 08 June 2018

Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher has been found to have made a breach of the Code of Conduct that was of a minor nature, after an assisted dying campaigner made a complaint against him.

Deputy Kuttelwascher spoke out against the pro assisted dying campaigners stood on the States' steps on the morning of the debate, saying: "I tell you, there are a number of people I'd love to assist in dying, but they'd object".

He also made comments about the lack of need for assisted dying because suicide was already legal.

The campaigners were outraged by the Deputy's comments, and Sarah Griffith, who led the pro campaign, filed an official complaint under the States members' Code of Conduct, asserting that Deputy Kuttelwascher had breached sections eight and nine of the code with the comments. 

"Having determined that there was prima facie evidence to support the complaint, the Chairman established an Investigation Panel to consider the matter in detail," a report into the matter said.

"That Panel considered the matter carefully and met the complaint and also Deputy Kuttelwascher. After considering all the evidence provided to it, both written and verbal, the Panel found the complaint substantiated and that sections eight and nine had been breached.

"The Investigation Panel was of the view that the breach of conduct was of a minor nature. It has therefore cautioned Deputy Kuttelwascher."

Due to the way the current system works, when Deputy Kuttelwascher accepted that caution, the matter would have been closed.

Below: See Deputy Kuttelwascher making the remarks on the morning of the 16 May.

Jan Kuttelwascher from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.

Ms Griffith said of the result that it was interesting that despite the panel finding there to have been a breach of two rules, the result was still that they found only it to be a minor offence.

"I am not so sure the people standing with me on the steps will view it in the same way," she said.

"What then does a member of the States have to do for more than a caution to be issued. I am told the matter is now closed. A very frustrating outcome indeed."

There was also general public outrage as Deputy Kuttelwascher's comments spread across the local media, with many calling for his resignation - much of which led to this complaint. He did issue an apology at the time, which acknowledged that "certain remarks" "may have caused concern for some people".