March 01, 2006
Alleged Rape Victim Threatened With Jail:
She Doesn't Want to Watch the Videotape of Her Rape in Court
Defense attorneys insist it’s part of the defendant’s “constitutional right to confrontation of a witness,” but the woman has testified that “she doesn't have any recollection or memory of the videotape incident at all,” so it’s rather unclear what purpose subjecting her to its viewing would serve. Nonetheless:
A Naperville (IL) woman who on Tuesday refused a judge's order to view a videotape of her alleged rape could be jailed on a contempt of court charge if she does not change her mind Wednesday, and the judge is considering a request to drop sexual assault charges against the Burr Ridge man on trial.
"I am ordering you to answer these questions," Judge Kerry Kennedy told the woman after an hourlong recess to discuss her refusal. "The consequences are that you would be held in contempt of court, with incarceration possible. Are you still refusing?"
"Yes," she responded.
"I will give you overnight to think about this," Kennedy said. "Tomorrow, I will ask you again."
blog entry w/links | Shakespeare's Sister
~Should victims of crimes hire lawyers to protect them from judges and prosecutors?
Update March 7: Family Of Alleged Rape Victim Issues Statement
[illus from story]
...following the acquittal of one of the teens charged in the alleged assault. ...the woman's parents issued a scathing letter, lashing out at prosecutors, referring to key evidence the family believes was ignored ..."There was never any attempt made to substantiate the possible use of 'date rape' drugs in this case.."
In closing arguments for the very first time, the family heard what they thought was damning audio from the videotape. The 20-year-old Adrian (Missbrenner) is heard saying, "Good drugs are really paying off," as one of the girl's limbs was held to display its lifelessness.
~It's obvious the defense had better lawyers.
Posted by Cieciel at March 1, 2006 10:31 AM