Juries have no place in rape trials. They simply can’t be trusted | Julie Bindel

Juries have no place in rape trials. They simply can’t be trusted | Julie Bindel

Myths about rape are so widely believed by the public that their ability to deliver justice is compromised The conviction rates for rape hav... 00:02:00

Myths about rape are so widely believed by the public that their ability to deliver justice is compromised

The conviction rates for rape have long been shockingly low. This is what has led one Labour MP, Ann Coffey, today to suggest doing away with juries in rape trials.

I support this. Prevailing rape myths, such as “she was asking for it”, “he’s handsome, and does not ‘need’ to rape”, and “if she didn’t want it she would close her legs”, can poison the mind of a juror against the complainant, whatever the evidence against the defendant. Women and girls are routinely blamed for being raped, which means the perpetrator, even when it is abundantly clear that he is guilty, is too often absolved. That is how patriarchy works: keep females in a constant state of fear of male violence, and then put the responsibility for it firmly on their shoulders.

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from US news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2FzEVKY