On this episode of Slut or Nut: The Podcast, Kelly chats with retired Ontario Judge, writer and teacher Marvin Zuker about his verdict and sentencing in the rape trial of R. vs Ururyar, the case featured in Slut or Nut the Diary of a Rape Trial. Zuker is also in the documentary film.
Kelly asks him “Should judges be feminists?”
The answer isn’t so simple.
One can’t help but think that part of the process is broken. The beautiful verdict that Zuker wrote was overturned in the appeal court. The man accused of raping Mandi Gray never did community service, and he never served his 18-month sentence. He never had restrictions about being around females and drinking alcohol. Instead, he got a one-year protection order - stipulating that he would not go near Mandi Gray- also known in Canada as a Peace Bond.
She could have gotten the same thing just from a stalking charge, or a harassment or trespassing charge.
Not only did he not serve his sentence, but the maximum time the peace bond could be legally applied, was only for 1 year.
Now that year is up.
Now Mandi faces see him around the corner, in the hallways, and at the food court of her workplace, as he has also returned to work there.
So I ask you, if the system is broken, which it appears it is, what now for victims of sexual assault? What now for the average person wanting to help prevent sexual assault?
Changing the legal system sounds impossibly hard, but what is the alternative?
Protests?
Doxing?
Public Shaming?
Just what is the point of spending hours reporting to the police, going through a trial, having your personal details laid public, and possibly missing hours of work - just to have the person who assaulted you return to work with you a year later after the peace bond expires.
And why can’t we have peace bonds that last forever? Until the other person dies? Why would you need to go through the bureaucratic headache of renewing a protective order every year?
I just don’t get it….
Link to the full verdict discussed: http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2998128-318957546-Full-Text-Justice-Marvin-Zuker-S.html
This episode features music by Lora Bidner and Jennifer Holub.
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If you would like to support the defense fund for the women in the trial, including Mandi, featured on this podcast today- Slut or Nut will be donating the proceeds from any merchandise or DVD sales till December 31 to support the legal costs for these survivors. You can place those orders directly on our website at www.slutornut.ca. And you can find out more about the defense fund or donate to it directly by visiting www.gofundme.com/galloway-suit-defense-fund and on www.facebook.com/slutornutthemovie
