Hi Jill
I hope this email finds you well?
Firstly I want to say that it was an absolute pleasure meeting you a few weeks ago at Parliament. I found you to be genuinely interested and concerned about this case and the petition at hand.
To say that I am completely disheartened right now is a gross understatement. To me it really feels like this case is now just 'yesterday's news'. This will never be the case for the nurse. There will not be one day that the attack won't re-surface and effect her in some way. This is not right Jill. It's not right that he has walked a free man. Freedom is something this nurse will never feel again.
I believe the DPP had 28 days to review and appeal this sentence. This time has now lapsed. I know that the DPP can request an appeal following a request from a concerned citizen or if they believe the sentence to be 'manifestly inadequate '.
The petition is now sitting at over 97000 signatures Jill, the majority of signatures being Victorians. These are concerned citizens putting their name to a petition, wanting change. Wanting this offender to be punished for the abhorrent crime he committed. Wanting justice for this nurse!
This sentence is the definition of manifestly inadequate!! The CCTV footage is clear and it is damning. What sort of message is this sending out to not only future perpetrators of these crimes of a sexual nature but more importantly to the women who are the victims of these predators?? The handling of this case has set the precedent so so low and has sent out a very dangerous message indeed. Why would women come forward, to have to re-live their attack over and over again, be dragged through the court process knowing all to well that more than likely 'he' will walk free..... ??
The judge deemed him a MODERATE risk to re-offend. Not a low risk, not a no risk at all... a MODERATE risk. How on earth can a person who has been deemed at risk to re-offend be allowed to walk our streets? How can women feel safe and secure in a world where these offenders are released to the same streets we walk every day?!
How can the Judge take into account HIS vulnerability if he was to be incarcerated? He didn't take into account how vulnerable she would have felt throughout this attack so why should he be afforded any sort of leniency??
Nothing about this case is right Jill and we need answers! We need change. Women have the right to not only be safe but feel safe and right now Jill we do not! How could we??? Any one of us at any time could be the next headline...
I would very much appreciate a follow up email regarding this issue. I would very much like to know why the DPP chose not to appeal this case? I would also like to know what our leaders are doing to ensure that the message be clear... this behaviour will not be accepted nor tolerated in our Society.
No more words. Action is what women need to see.
Yours Faithfully
Emm Jones