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Judge calls rape victim 'stupid'
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by Barry Artiste | December 13, 2007 at 06:04 am
928 views | 12 Recommendations | 3 comments
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Certainly a Judge who is a tad unravelled, bringing another point on a flawed Canadian Justice system.
Judge calls rape victim 'stupid'
By PABLO FERNANDEZ, SUN MEDIA
The Calgary Sun
To have a judge refer to the victim of a vicious rape as stupid is a disservice of the highest degree, the Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse said yesterday.
The comments from CCASA executive director Deb Tomlinson come a day after Justice John Rooke called the victim of a sexual attack "naive" and "stupid."
"I think by making these comments, this judge is doing a disservice to all of society," said Tomlinson.
"By pointing the finger at the victim, and not at the offender where it belongs ... it is going to keep more women from coming forward and reporting these crimes."
Rooke sentenced Stefano Priolo, 30, to 31/2 years in prison Tuesday for raping a then-18-year-old woman in a cemetery on Nov. 28, 2005.
In his ruling, Rooke slammed Priolo as "a predator" who took advantage of a vulnerable young woman after she got into his car on the promise he would drive her to a bus depot.
The judge should have chosen his words about the victim more carefully, said Tomlinson.
By putting the blame, even if unintentionally, partly on the victim, the judge is creating an environment not conducive to the reporting of sexual crimes, she said.
Nationwide, only 8% of sexual attacks are reported.
"Victims don't feel comfortable coming forward," she said. "This means all of these offenders are not being made to answer for their actions."
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Barry Artiste
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 08:48 on December 13th, 2007
Barry Artiste, great stuff.
It's appalling to think that in 2007 we are seeing pre-1950's attitudes.
Rape isn't about sex. It's an act of violence, power, domination, and control. It's assault and battery using a penis, hand, or other object.
Calling a rape victim "stupid" is parcelling out blame. I'm assuming, of course, that the judge in question has never ever made a mistake in judgment, never made a bad investment, never hired an employee he thought would do good work but didn't, never made a bad call and drove too fast, never made a mistake! How wonderful for him! (extreme sarcasm intended).
People who blame rape victims are cruel, and they add to the problems with rape victims not wanting to come forward.
One of the things I always say is: "OK, the next time a jewelry store is robbed, the police can ignore it. After all, what did the jeweler expect, putting expensive things out in the windows, in plain view? It's stupid, isn't it, to do that? If someone robs the store, well, hey, they were invited to."
That shakes up perceptions!
at 10:25 on December 13th, 2007
One hopes someone in Government Power will ensure this Judges next profession includes request of "Super Sizing" someones Meal.
As always, thanks for the comments Pep
at 06:27 on December 17th, 2007
Good job for highlighting this, Barry. I think that it's really important that stories like this are widely read so that as many people as possible can voice their disgust with such a statement.
This piece is absolutely right in condemning the judge and in pointing out how off-putting this could be for future rape victims coming forward to report their ordeals.