Storm as judge says murdered girl ‘made herself vulnerable’
He says young women who drink too much on nights out put themselves at risk of sex attacks
A JUDGE has suggested that a student who was murdered after a night out with friends had ‘put herself in a vulnerable position’.
The controversial comments came after Karen Buckley’s remains were found dumped in a field.
District Judge Nigel Cadbury mentioned the 24-year-old during a separate court hearing to issue a warning about women drinking too much alcohol.
Friends of Miss Buckley, who was studying occupational therapy at Glasgow Caledonian University, have said she had only a few drinks before leaving a club.
CCTV shows her walking from the Sanctuary nightclub. From there, she went to a man’s flat in Kelvinside, Glasgow.
After a four- day hunt, her body was found at a farm on April 16.
Speaking at Worcester magistrates’ court the following day, Mr Cadbury implied Miss Buckley had been drinking heavily on the night of her death.
Sentencing Leanne Roberts, 21, who had assaulted someone outside a bar, he said: ‘I find it incredible that young
‘Only perpetrators are to blame’
people can get so drunk that they don’t even know who they’re with. One only has to think about the horrible situation in Glasgow to see how serious this could have been. It’s very, very worrying how young girls put themselves in such very, very vulnerable positions.’
Last night, campaigners branded his comments ‘insensitive’.
Katie Russell, of the charity Rape Crisis, said: ‘It was wholly inappropriate, irrelevant and insensitive to make reference to the murder of Karen Buckley in this context and the timing of these comments was particularly distasteful.
‘Of course it’s not unreasonable to advise young people, or indeed people of any age, not to drink alcohol to excess … But for a senior figure within the legal system to talk so specifically about young girls “making themselves vulnerable” in relation to gender- based violence … with specific reference to a recent murder, is unhelpful.’ She added: ‘This reinforces the false notion that it is ultimately victims and potential victims who have the power and responsibility to prevent violence against women and girls. In fact, only the perpetrators, who are mostly men, are to blame for violence against women and girls … and only they ultimately have the power to end it.’ Sarah Green, of campaign group End Violence Against Women, said: ‘District Judge Nigel Cadbury seems to be perpetuating the idea that young women drinking alcohol put themselves at risk of attack.
‘Even if it is not meant, this implies sexual violence is in some way inevitable and it is women’s responsibility to avoid it. It makes the perpetrators of these crimes all but invisible.’
She added that focus should be shifted ‘to the men who choose to commit these crimes – because violence against women is not inevitable. We must start asking who commits rape and why … and what can we do to deter it.’
During the sentencing, the court heard Roberts, of Ombersley, Worcestershire, had punched a woman outside a bar. She was given a six-month community order and a six-week curfew.
Mr Cadbury said: ‘There is a drinking problem because she [Roberts] can’t remember what she did … I am sure you are now aware of how vulnerable you made yourself.’
Alexander Pacteau, 21, has appeared in court charged with the murder of Miss Buckley and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.