TAR CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN    

DURING 2005 WE ESTIMATE THAT 17,000 WOMEN WILL REPORT RAPE - ONE EVERY MINUTE - OUR CHRISTMAS WISH IS TO STOP THE INJUSTICE

Here we take on the 'justice' system - Let the trial commence!!

The case

The Evidence

You decide

And the sentence is..........

Who should I send a letter to?

Model letters

In response to our 16 days of Action, we have decided to continue the theme of challenging the 'justice' system by protesting at the  continuing male violence perpetrated upon women and girls in the courtroom.

The case

The case of Judge Hucker in the trial of a 15 year old who complained of gang rape is, unfortunately, just one example of the way that the justice system is weighted against women and children.

For the full details of the case check out this article from the BBC:

Gang rape teenager was filmed

This excellent article by Maggie O'Riordan of the Sunday Mirror gives the details in the girl's own words:

My Hell...By the Soccer Gang Rape Girl, 15

The judge told the court: "When I first saw the papers in this case some three weeks ago... I concluded in my mind that only a miracle could save the defendants from conviction and a double-figure sentence, provided the complainant was a credible witness”.

The miracle that saved the defendants was Judge Michael Hucker himself. It is indeed remarkable that the case looked so strong until the young woman was placed before the judge and he decided he didn’t like what he saw.

The judge doubted the credibility of the young victim. But imagine how confused and distressed she must have felt after being questioned in turn by each man's defence barrister. Such interrogation within the courtroom by a 'gang' of barristers must have felt like another series of attacks.

This is just one case. We all know that there is more wrong with the criminal justice system than one individual case can tell us.

Although individual cases are tragic for those involved and make us angry at what women and girls go through, we have to look further than single cases if we are to understand the broader issues that underpin individual decisions.

The evidence

If we want to challenge the criminal justice system we have to understand it and the power of those within it.

We give you the evidence against Judge Michael Hucker who directed the jury in the above case to acquit because he believed the young woman was "unreliable."  Why might he think this? Is it because he:

Exhibit One

Has a history of directing the jury and halting sex offences trials?

Click here for the evidence

He said it wasn't physically possible to rape a girl while she slept - and halted the trial of a 13 year old boy accused of raping two girls aged 13 & 15.

Exhibits Two and Three

Or that he has a record of ridiculously lenient sentences?

Click here for the evidence.

He gave a priest just 18 months for 2 sexual assaults:

The second piece of evidence here is:

Click here for the evidence

Where he sentenced a man who distributed child porn - from a school computer - to only 2 years.

Exhibit Four

There is evidence of slightly higher sentences:

Click here for the evidence

But this was a case of two men involved in multiple child abuse and still the sentences (3.5 & 8 years) would result one man being out in less than 2 years and the other in less than 5 years:

Exhibit Five

We managed to find one case where Judge Hucker used the maximum sentence:

Click here for the evidence

But in the case of this serial rapist - did he have any other choice?

So there is the evidence - we put Judge Michael Hucker in the dock.

Other judges previously brought before our court

This is not the first Judge to be brought before us. Previously in 2004 we have had to refer another Judge Michael - Judge Michael Roach - to the Attorney General’s Office for exercising poor judgement in the way in which he discussed the case in court. Before that, in 2003, we chastised Lord Reed who sentenced the rapist of a 13 MONTH old girl to just 5 years. That sentence was subsequently increased because it was deemed to be unduly lenient.

And another for a future trial?

A TAR member has just brought our attention to another judge whose judicial practice requires the attention of this court. The judge is Roger Dutton and he allowed Benjamin Griffiths, a convicted child abuser,  bail whilst his sentencing report was being prepared. Griffiths was convicted of raping and sexually abusing a 9 year old girl.  Griffiths was found guilty of rape and "indecent" sexual assault, yet Judge Dutton still allowed him bail until sentencing.  When Griffiths was due to attend court to be sentenced - surprise - Griffiths did not attend.  In Griffiths' absence Judge Roger Dutton sentenced him to 10 years jail, assuming of course Griffiths will be caught. Click here to read this woeful story of yet more injustice.

You decide

So - women - we give you the chance to judge a judge.

In the case of Judge Michael Hucker, what say you?

Is he innocent or guilty?

Vote now by clicking here to make your decision. You will not be identified in any way by participating.

Read comments made already...

We will report the overall verdict to the Lord Chancellor, the Prime Minister and many more.

And the sentence is...

If you feel Judge Michael Hucker is guilty, don't wait for the verdict from us - demand your own justice by using our model letter (below). We estimate that around 17,000 women will report rape in 2005 – that is one woman raped every minute of every day. Stop the injustice by writing to you local newspaper, your MP, the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General or the Solicitor General, the United Nations - and anyone else you can think of - you can even write to Judge Michael Hucker himself with your verdict on his behaviour:

Judge Michael Hucker – care of The Crown Court at Kingston upon Thames, 6-8 Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames,
Surrey KT1 2BB.

Find your MP - You can write to your MP care of 'House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA'. To find their constituency address either phone the House of Commons Information office 020 7219 4272 (with your postcode), or ask your local library. Alternatively, use this link to go to the UK Parliament's MP locator service (go to our Ideas for Action for more information).

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA. Or you can email him - but he is not obliged to respond to you!

Lord Falconer of Thoroton who is Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor. He is responsible for the appointment of judges. Department for Constitutional Affairs, Selborne House, 54 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QW.

The Attorney General - Any member of the public can email the Attorney General at: lslo@gtnet.gov.uk  Or write to Lord Peter Goldsmith, The Attorney General's Office, The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, Attorney, General's Chambers, 9 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6JP.

United Nations - Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2 UN Plaza, DC2-12th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA.

2 model letters

Letter One (click for print friendly copy)

Dear

All I want for Christmas is justice for rape survivors. 

The Truth About Rape Campaign has alerted me to the injustice faced by rape complainants in the UK courts.  Where there is more than one alleged rapist the complainant is forced to endure multiple questioning by defence barristers and they have no legal redress. This harrowing experience, combined with discriminatory attitudes held by certain members of the judiciary, results in injustice and I am therefore calling upon you to take action.

I am appalled that some judges seem to base their sentencing on rape myths and untested beliefs about human behaviour. The Truth About Rape have documented evidence of poor sentencing by a number of judges including:

• sentencing a man convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography to only 2 years imprisonment;
• sentencing two men convicted of multiple child sexual abuse to only 5 years and 8 years respectively, which would result in one man serving less than 2 years and the other less than 5 years and;
• sentencing the rapist of a 13 MONTH old girl to just 5 years.

There is also evidence which shows that these judges are capable of appropriate sentencing in theft cases which leads me to believe that these judges view theft of property as a more serious crime than rape and/or sexual assault of women and children. 

The State has a duty to protect its citizens from harm and abuse. Are women and children not included? Women are just as human as men and are entitled to their human rights. HOW MUCH EVIDENCE DO WE NEED before we take action?

I believe it is vital that individuals such as judges, who are in positions of authority within the legal system, demonstrate due diligence in upholding women’s right to sexual autonomy and bodily integrity by awarding sentences that are proportionate to the harm committed in sexual offences. The evidence shows that some judges fail to do this and so continue to perpetuate injustice.

I call for the following:

• Justice system staff, including judges, to receive training on sexual violence issues from rape crisis centres;
• Legal representation for complainants in rape trials;
• The dismissal of judges who make misogynistic/sexist comments in court and;
• The creation of a judges Inspectorate/Ombudsman to conduct independent reports and who the public can appeal to.

All I want for Christmas is justice for rape complainants.

It is estimated that around 17,000 women will report rape in 2005 – that is one woman raped every minute of every day. The UK current conviction rate in rape is around 6% - that means just 6 in each 100 rape cases will result in a rapist going to prison. Please can we change that?

Can you grant me my Christmas wish?

Letter Two (click for print friendly version)

Truth about Rape Xmas Campaign

Campaigners demand the dismissal of judges

The Truth about Rape Campaign is demanding the dismissal of judges who fail to implement the law and continue to allow rapists to get off scot free. The first judge to be targeted in their Xmas Campaign, is judge Michael Hucker who threw out the case of five footballers being tried for the horrific gang-raping of a 15 year old girl, last week. This judge dismissed the case on the grounds that he considered the victim an unreliable witness even though he admitted that the men's behaviour was "disgraceful" and amounted to a "gang-bang". The campaign has discovered that Judge Michael Hucker dismissed another rape case in 2003, which involved a 13 year old boy raping a 13 and 15 year old girl, on the grounds that he did not believe that they could be raped whilst they slept and that he has a history of handing out unduly lenient sentences to rapists when they are convicted by juries.

The campaign is also demanding that victims should not be subjected to multiple questioning by different barristers in cases of gang rape and that victims should be allowed their own representation in court.

Further information is at www.truthaboutrape.co.uk/christmas2004.html

The campaign can be contacted by phoning Lynne Harne 07981 744236
 

USA

TAR members in the USA might prefer to lobby George Bush on issues of violence against women. Please see the Amnesty campaign for a model letter to President Bush.