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Jaw, Dropped

May 21st, 2007

You won’t…

I can’t…

Okay. A defense attorney in the UK said that a rape victim should have been “glad of the attention” of being raped. Because she was fat. I am not kidding.

A barrister provoked outrage yesterday by claiming that the victim of an alleged gang rape was so fat she would have been ‘glad of the attention’. Sheilagh Davies, defending one of three boys accused of raping two girls, said the 16-year-old girl had ’slimmed down a lot’ since the alleged attack. She told Inner London Crown Court: ‘She was 12st 6lb – not quite the swan she may turn into. She may well have been glad of the attention.

That’s 246 pounds, I believe. [ETA: 176 pounds, per the comments.] Here’s another article about this. I can’t even fathom this. I seriously don’t even know what to say. I am so disgusted right now.

Found via I came back like a cat.

Posted by mo pie

Filed under: International

17 Responses to “Jaw, Dropped”

  1. littlestar, on May 21st, 2007 at 5:44 pm Said:

    That people whose profession it is to uphold the law and protect the rights of victims can be so cold and nasty…damn.

    Think it’s time for another civil rights movement.

  2. Fat Chick, on May 21st, 2007 at 6:26 pm Said:

    I wonder if she’d say the same thing if it happened to her. ‘Cause judging by her picture, she’s kind of a hag who would probably be glad of some attention herself.

    I know it’s pointless to fight ugliness with more ugliness, but boy, I just can’t think of anything else to say.

    I suppose it’s just a logical extension of the old, equally lame, defense argument that “she wanted it” because of the way she dressed, etc.

  3. Mary Garden, on May 21st, 2007 at 6:28 pm Said:

    Oh my god! This is just unbelievable! Would he have said the same thing about a 90-year-old woman who was raped??? Because she probably hasn’t gotten any in a while either. I can’t believe anyone ever buys this argument about rape anymore – ANY rape.

  4. Erin, on May 21st, 2007 at 6:33 pm Said:

    Actually 12 stone 6 is 174 pounds, not that that should matter.

  5. The Rotund, on May 21st, 2007 at 6:53 pm Said:

    I’ve been reading about this all day. It really disgusts me. Just another take on the old “she was asking for it” argument that makes rape a woman’s fault instead of, you know, HER RAPIST’S fault.

  6. spinsterwitch, on May 21st, 2007 at 6:59 pm Said:

    “I suppose it’s just a logical extension of the old, equally lame, defense argument that “she wanted it” because of the way she dressed, etc.”

    Actually, she said that in more words, too. Basically that girls are dressing more provocatively now and therefore are having sex earlier. Lovely, effed up logic.

  7. rei, on May 21st, 2007 at 10:44 pm Said:

    Oh well…that just makes me sick.

  8. Brenda, on May 22nd, 2007 at 4:09 am Said:

    Wow. Now men have yet another defense for raping fat women?

    “I did it so that she could lose weight and improve her health and raise her self-esteem and quality of life, your honor.

    Raping her makes me a good guy!”

    And those boys, those thirteen-year-old rapists, are learning that, yes, it is permissable to rob, harrass, threaten, brutalize, and rape women–and be defended by another woman for doing so. I wonder what kind of men they’re going to be ten years down the road.

    There was a recent case where a teen was gang raped and it was videotaped by the men who raped her. The men beat the rape charge (I forget the reason, but it was something like the woman didn’t have to be beaten into submission in order for the men to rape her) but were found guilty of creating child pornography.

  9. nicki, on May 22nd, 2007 at 7:19 am Said:

    it makes me sick too, I had a friend in high school who was raped, and everyone said the same thing, she was asking for it because of the way she dressed.

  10. Kellie, on May 22nd, 2007 at 7:38 am Said:

    Color me speechless. And upset. I think i’m going to be sick. :o(

  11. Heather, on May 22nd, 2007 at 7:43 am Said:

    What’s worse…the hag’s comment or the fact that there are probably, sadly enough, people out there who agree with her.

    I hope to goodness that the victim gets some justice (and hopefully a good therapist).

  12. Fitness Health Zone, on May 22nd, 2007 at 8:14 am Said:

    Its disgusting to say anything like that about the victims ……

  13. None Given, on May 23rd, 2007 at 11:42 am Said:

    Why does the lawyer assume she couldn’t get any attention? What an insult. I weigh way more than that and I get plenty.

  14. CCC, on May 25th, 2007 at 3:43 pm Said:

    Okay, that’s disturbing on a million levels.

    How awful…

  15. uh, on May 28th, 2007 at 8:09 pm Said:

    I knew defense attorneys were assholes, but this is taking it to a whole. nother. level.

    Rape is NOT attention. Does she need somebody to tell her what the definition of rape is? It means AGAINST YOUR WILL. That means people do not WANT to be rapsed. Jesus christ.

    And I can tell you weight has nothing to do with rape. I was raped and molested when I was 4 (also by a 13 year old) and I sure didn’t weigh very much and if someone says I should have been glad I will kick their ass.

  16. electric airsoft gun, on June 5th, 2007 at 2:02 pm Said:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  17. Big Fat Deal » What You May Have Missed In May, on June 8th, 2007 at 1:00 am Said:

    [...] what happens when you’re not fat anymore and you hate fat people. More controversy: we were angry about rape, but not angry enough. And we were also labeled obesity [...]

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