Rape judge 'ignored our pleas'

My thoughts:   wow, so now knowing that the judge knew how bad the community crime was and she still did not do anything. Even without knowing how bad the crime was in the community, you would think the judge would convict these horrendous criminals of this devastating crime! What is going on!!! Im glad that there is going to be an investigation into this and others.

 

Russell Skelton, Aurukun, Queensland | December 19, 2007

SARAH Bradley, the district judge who shocked the nation when she declined to jail nine males found guilty of raping a 10-year-old girl, had been extensively briefed by prominent Aurukun community members on their desire for tough measures to deal with the culture of violence in their township.

Fairfax Media has been told that members of the Aurukun Justice Group — a state-funded community law-and-order consultative body — told the judge of the terrible problems that had beset the tiny Cape York community, including rampant teenage sexual promiscuity and high rates of serious juvenile crime.

Janine Chevathun, an Aurukun councillor and member of the justice group, said the committee had taken Judge Bradley out on the community boat and explained to her over several hours the levels of social dysfunction and alcohol-related crime tearing the community apart.