Sunday, August 03, 2003

JUST WHO WAS THE VICTIM?

The British press was full, last week, of the John Leslie case.

For those living elsewhere, micro-celebrity Leslie was accused of rape. The story broke in the aftermath of the autobiography of another nano-celebrity, Ulrika Jonsson, one-time diversion for England football coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. She “confessed” that a “celebrity” had raped her. Although Jonsson did not name Leslie, his name came out after a week of intense speculation. When the story broke it brought forth a whole host of women claiming that Leslie had raped them too.

The case against Leslie fell apart in court. I do not profess to know the details, but I imagine the guy is a bit of a shit and some people saw an opportunity to drag him down by his loose zipper. He may, or may not have raped women. But, the allegations did not stand up in court.

The press has had a field day on the question of whether Leslie’s career has been ruined and, after the words of the Lord Chief Justice, whether it is right that while accusers in a rape case can retain anonymity the defendant cannot.

The tabloids and Lord Woolf seem to be missing the bigger issue. Rape is a devastating crime. Four women, I know, have confided to me that they have been raped. Another close friend says that she was sexually abused. In all but one case, the victim knew the attacker. In two case, they had had a previous sexual relationship. Only two reported the crime – a pretty high percentage.

In the two cases brought to court, the known attacker got off because he had a very clever (and devious) barrister who turned tables on the victim presenting her as “wicked” and out to get the guy because the relationship had broken down and she was about to lose her job because of the affair. (I’m glad to report that the bastard is now serving life for other violent offences.)

The unknown rapist was convicted. He turned out to be a serial offender.

These experiences are not unusual. Most offences are never reported because the way the law works and the courts and juries deal with rape. It is difficult to obtain a conviction. The popular misconception is that rapists are just a different form of sexual deviant. They are not. Rapists are seen as unknown, masked, a bit like cat burgulars. They are not. Here's some facts and myths.

Juries tend to treat all sex between those who know each other as consensual. If you know your partner it cannot be rape. This makes a mockery of the law and of justice. Rape is forced sex; with or without violence; whether the victim knows the rapist or not.

Anonymity for victims has helped increase reporting rates. Publicity for defendants has encouraged other victims to come forward. But, attitudes to rape need to change too. The Leslie case will not help matters. The tabloid press – guilty of treating women as sex objects - has become fixated on the narrow issue of anonymity instead of looking closer at why rape is so rarely reported and almost never proven in court.

And, now, the recriminations...

Shame: all around.

:: Posted by pete @ 14:14