‘SOMEONE SAW SOMETHING’
Victim of an alleged rape urges witnesses to come forward after charges are dropped.
Holding it together, a teenage girl sat before a sea of media cameras Wednesday afternoon, pleading for witnesses to her alleged sexual assault to come forward.
The girl was 16 at the time of a rave on Harris Road in Pitt Meadows on Sept. 10, 2010.
It’s alleged that she was attacked by several men while other partygoers looked on, and that some even recorded the assault.
She came forward Wednesday after charges were stayed on Tuesday against a 19- year- old Maple Ridge man previously charged with sexually assaulting her that night.
While she expressed horror that the charges had been dropped against her alleged assailant because of a lack of evidence, the young woman remained calm and asked that others in attendance that night come forward and talk to police.
“There is no doubt in my mind that I was sexually assaulted,” she said, adding that a code of silence was keeping evidence from being brought forward.
“Someone saw something, heard something, anything, and it’s still out there, and I’m asking you to please come forward,” she said. “No matter how small and insignificant you may think it is please, please, please come forward. It would mean the world to me and my family.”
Her stricken- looking father, who sat next to her at the family- called press conference, sent a message to those who have information but have not come forward: “At some point in your life, you will have to explain to perhaps your own kids to do what’s right in life, and it’s never too late to do that. This is your time to do what’s right. Don’t be afraid from peer pressure; there are several ways to come forward anonymously.”
A stay of proceedings does not mean acquittal or that an accused was found innocent, her father elaborated.
“My family and I are disappointed with the stay of this trial,” her dad said. “I want to make it clear: our daughter was sexually assaulted. A person does not acquire the injuries in the extent and manner she did by being consensual and willing.”
In announcing Tuesday that it was staying the sexual assault charge against Colton Ashton Mcmorris five days before he was due to go to trial, the Crown said it doesn’t have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial and expect a conviction at this time.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Peter Thiessen told Wednesday’s news conference: “We have made it clear at the front end of this investigation, and it has not changed, that we know that there are individuals out there who can provide significant evidence and information to investigators in regards to what occurred there, evidence and information beyond what we currently have.”
While Thiessen wouldn’t reveal what had changed since the charges were initially laid, he said he believes there is more evidence that has not been brought forward yet.
“We simply need to tap into that evidence. We have done everything we possibly can; investigators have worked day and night since September of 2010 on this investigation,” Thiessen said.
“It is unfortunate that it has resulted in a stay of proceedings, but investigators are not going to give up trying to acquire the evidence we know is out there.
“There was absolutely a sexual
At some point in your life, you will have to explain to perhaps your own kids to do what’s right in life, and it’s never too late to do that.
TEEN’S FATHER
assault that occurred here, and it is quite likely, in fact, we strongly believe, it involved more than one individual,” he said.
“It’s pretty clear that this family needs the help of this community, and there are individuals in this community who know exactly what happened there and who is responsible …”
A teen who videotaped the incident was sentenced earlier this month in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court to 12 months of probation. The youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded guilty in December to making and distributing obscene material.
Another man, Dennis John Allen Warrington, 20, of Langley still faces a count of production and distribution of child pornography. His trial is expected next fall.
Meanwhile, Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre said the stay of charges sends the message that sexual assault is acceptable.
“Through these decisions, rape culture continues to be sanctioned by a system that is meant to represent our society’s values, to denounce unlawful conduct, and to keep our communities safe,” said Dalya Israel, the centre’s victim services coordinator.