Different takes on judge’s rape ruling
Re Judge’s ruling turns a page, Editorial July 24 Plaudits must be extended to Justice Marvin Zuker and his precedent-setting 179-page verdict finding a young York University student guilty of sexually assaulting fellow PhD student Mandi Gray.
Her commitment and bravery for coming out publicly in this case and not hiding behind the veil of anonymity as is the usual in these instances should serve as an example to all women suffering sexual abuse and rape by a spouse or other.
In many cases like this the woman is as much on trial as the accused. In fact, they are often reluctant to even report it to the police or authorities who all too often put them through the pain and suffering all over again with their line of questioning and attitude.
Justice Zuker should be championed by all women who have suffered through these horrific experiences and let his verdict send a clear message that this treatment of women will not be tolerated any longer. Marty Fruchtman, Toronto There is one thing we do not know as a result of this case: whether the rape actually took place, whether Mustafa Uruyar is actually guilty. This was a clear case of “she said, he said.”
According to the philosophy of Justice Zuker, justice requires that we return to the “women don’t lie” philosophy of the 1980s and ’90s and the practice of condemning men on the uncorroborated testimony of women.
Furthermore, defence attorneys are no longer to challenge complainants and question their credibility. If the woman says it happened, then it did, and the man must go to jail, even if innocent.
In short, due process and presumption of innocence must be laid aside. Stephen Langevin, Toronto