Sunday, October 16, 2005

Who's Responsible?

A NSW jury has found three young men not guilty of aggravated sexual assault.
Journalist Brad Clifton's report tells how:

The alleged rape victim, who began crying as the first of the not guilty verdicts was read out, was inconsolable.

The sobbing woman had to be comforted by a police officer as a jubilant group of supporters embraced the accused just metres away.

"I know the truth and they know the truth and they have to live with that for the rest of their lives," she said.

The truth is that the 18 year old agreed to have group sex with three men she'd only just met in a club and trailed around Cronulla looking for a hotel to do it in before finally sneaking into the home of one of the young men's parents to do it there.

In her evidence, the teenager said she had consensual sex with each of the men but asked them to stop when the party started getting rougher. Journalist Clifton's confusing rendering of the timeline of alleged events suggests the men did ultimately stop but not quick enough for the girl-gone-wild's liking.

In the absence of physical injury, the jury came to the right decision, one based not only on the behaviour of the accused men but also on the alleged victim's personal responsibility in the matter. The three young men have been publicly shamed (as have their families) and one would like to think the young woman will think twice in future before behaving like a stupid whore.

-- Nick

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