To the editor:
Kathy Michael’s column (Sex Case ‘Stereotypes Play Out on National Stage’ March 25 Kelowna Capital News) summed up the enormity of sexual assaults and the need to protect women’s rights.
However, I’m appalled to see lawyer Paul Hergott, apologize in your paper for assuming Jian Ghomeshi’s guilt prior to his acquittal for sexual assault. I assume he based his first assumption on life, professional experience and even gut instinct.
He later says the presumption of innocence is the cornerstone of our justice system. To presume all women that report sexual abuse are lying, only exposes the systemic failure of the justice system to protect the most vulnerable. Putting the victims on trial is to one goal—acquittal, not justice.
Based on life experience and what I have seen and heard, I do assume Ghomeshi did those things to those women. I’m also going to assume there are plenty of others who dared not come forward.
Once while in college, I stopped my football teammates from gang-raping a barely conscious drunk student. I scooped the girl up over my shoulder and took her back to her dorm room.
Would I have done the same if she hadn’t just so happened to be a friend of mine on the women’s tennis team? Will someone do the same for my daughter if she is ever in that situation? I hope so, but perhaps I assume is too much.
David Mossman, Kelowna