babble: Familiar Injustice in Australia.

FAQ | Forum Home

»	babble » current events » international news and politics » Familiar Injustice in Australia.

Email this thread to someone!

Author

Topic: Familiar Injustice in Australia.

Tommy_Paine
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 214

posted 11 December 2007 04:33 PM

The story of a judge thinking that a ten year old girl consented to be raped is all over the media. It reminded me of a similar ruling some time ago here in Canada, where a judge said a child acted in a sexually provocative way, and used that to help protect a pedophile rapist from deserved consequences.

But it seems the Crown Prosecutor was also at fault in the Australian case.

From the Australian-- Crown Prosecutor suspended.

From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

oldgoat
Moderator
Babbler # 1130

posted 11 December 2007 04:41 PM

Good God, I just saw that on the news. Absolutely unbelievable. The new gov't appears to be trying to do something about it, but there seem to be some pretty entrenched problems in the system.

From: The 10th circle | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged

Tommy_Paine
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 214

posted 11 December 2007 05:08 PM

It seems to me, from reading between the lines that the sentencing reflects a desire to keep Aboriginal people out of jail as much as possible. Something that is being attempted in some places in Canada. And, I'm not against that principle, in principle-- but when the crimes are concerning violence against other people, instead of crimes against property etc, that principle has to be more closely examined, and weighed against the rights of others to live in safety.

What got lost, perhaps is protection of the victim, not just in this horrific case but it seems in previous incidents also.

What is different is that the Crown seems not to have been motivated by this idea, but by "boys will be boys".

Another difference is that he is currently suspended.

In Canada, that wouldn't happen.

From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Summer
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12491

posted 11 December 2007 06:32 PM

That poor little girl.

quote:
The girl, now 12, has repeatedly been victimised and sexually abused, and was wrongly sent back to Aurukun before the gang rape.
She is now believed to be in foster care away from Aurukun.

I wouldn't condone a boys will be boys attitude in any case, but especially here where three of the perpertrators were 17, 18 and 26?!?! The girl was 10 when it happened. What was the prosecutor thinking?

I do recall reading a Cdn. case where a teenage aboriginal was sexually assaulted by a member of her family (a cousin maybe?). He was given a light sentence as I recall, restorative justice. It had my class flabbergasted, but I can't remember much more about it.

From: Ottawa | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged

All times are Pacific Time

Hop To: