victims of crime

Last year, almost on the spur of the moment, I launched a campaign against our legal system – especially magistrates and judges who gave rapists and child molesters legal slaps on the risks. Several rapists were given totally suspended sentences. One on the grounds that is was an “ opportunistic rape”. Because a chef on his way home saw a woman, through her window, sleeping on her couch.

What an “opportunistic rape” is, is beyond me. What? Because she’s female, because she is vulnerable and because she is there?

 We held a rally on the steps of Parliament House on Spring Street on a Sunday morning and – as I have said before – I did not know whether twenty or 200 people would turn up. Ten thousand of you did. Ten thousand people who care about this community and especially about victims of crime.  About women, whom I have said before, get raped and then get raped a second time by our court system.

I mention it yet again today because of an e-mail I received overnight from a tireless fighter for victims of crime and inadequate sentencing, Steve Medcraft.

He wrote:

“We have had some great results with regards sentencing in the past but I am pleading with you today to get the public of Melbourne fired up and show that they really can make a difference by showing up tomorrow and Saturday at the Melbourne Town Hall for the Victims’ Forum. You did it with the Rally last year. All I want is 10% of them back to make a difference.

I can’t believe Peter Norden, the white angel of killers, drug dealers and rapists, can get 1000 to attend a church service for a convicted drug dealer who would have killed a number of young Australian teenagers with his poison, yet we are struggling to get 400 to an event where change could be a distinct possibility. I trust you will take this onboard for me."

Regards, Steve Medcraft

He makes some good points. And he sincerely fights the good fight.  I do believe that some magistrates and judges are now hearing the clarion call from the community that, like Peter Finch we are “mad as hell and not going to take it any more”. But there is still a lot more territory to cover. Especially when a judge will, in court, refer to a “garden variety rape” or ”an opportunistic rape”.

And there is some progress over so-called suspended sentenced which we have discussed on air recently. Let your feet do the talking.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2005