Fury mounts over judge’s rape remarks

TASMANIA’S deputy opposition leader has written to the Attorney-General and the state’s Chief Justice following a judge’s comments about a teen rapist.

Michelle O’Byrne said she “couldn’t believe it” when she read the October 18 sentence handed down by Supreme Court of Tasmania judge Gregory Geason.

Her shock followed that of the Women’s Legal Service Tasmania CEO Yvette Cehtel, who this week told The Mer

cury she was “horrified” by the judge’s language around rape.

“I couldn’t believe it when I read the sentencing. I went and checked it with a number of advocates and legal professionals and they all said while he hadn’t erred in law, they were concerned about his language as well,” Ms O’Byrne said.

The rapes in question occurred in May 2017, when a 17year-old boy raped his victim twice and sexually assaulted her at a party in Hobart.

“There is no suggestion you have any disease, and I have commented that you did not ejaculate,” Justice Geason said while sentencing.

“In my view, the fact that the sex was unprotected is not in this case an aggravating factor,”

He also found that comments by the rapist to another reveller that he wanted to have sex with the victim weren’t “predatory”, but rather a “crudely expressed statement of desire”.

Ms O’Byrne said language in the courts was important, adding “education and training” was vital for legal professionals.

“Violence, particularly violence against women, stems from the language we use. So it’s really important that anyone in public office or positions of influence is mindful of the language that they use,” she said.

“I have written to both the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General seeking that they review the language in the decision, and advise what action they’ll be taking.”

The Supreme Court of Tasmania has been contacted for comment.