[Niamh.]

What a complete ****, he should lose his job for that imo

The Canadian judge also made comments about the 17-year-old girl’s appearance and complimented her attacker

A judge in a sexual-assault case has been criticised for suggesting that the 17-year-old survivor should be “flattered” by the attention, making several statements that demonstrate the persistence of rape myths in the judicial system.

A complaint is being filed by Quebec’s justice minister against Judge Jean-Paul Braun who made the “unacceptable” remarks in May, during the trial of a taxi driver accused of kissing and groping his passenger without consent.

Forty-nine-year-old Carlo Figaro was ultimately found guilty of forcibly licking the girl’s face and groping her breasts and genitals before she managed to escape from his car, which he had parked near her house.

But, in the course of his trial, Judge Braun told the courtroom, "You could say she's a little overweight, but she has a pretty face, huh?” and suggested that she might have enjoyed the attention because "it was perhaps the first time that he was interested in her”.

Judge Braun argued that there are different levels of consent required for a kiss and for touching someone intimately, reportedly stating: “It's not the same consent to kiss someone and consent to [grab somebody's butt]... I conclude that he tried to kiss her, that can be an acceptable gesture.”

He also complimented the accused perpetrator. According to CBC News, the judge said: “He looks good and doesn't seem his age… We can see from his testimony… that he has nice manners and that he likes to wear cologne – with Versace when he goes out, and with other less-expensive colognes during the week.”

These comments are completely unacceptable. They're unacceptable from anybody, but especially coming from a judge
A support group for sexual-assault survivors, West Island CALACS, condemned the comments: "[The judge] gave messages that were reprehensible … giving her the message that even though she was sexually assaulted, maybe in some way, she was flattered by these comments. These comments are completely unacceptable. They're unacceptable from anybody, but especially coming from a judge."

Unsurprisingly, this is not the first time Judge Braun has made offensive comments and perpetuated rape culture. In 2013, he described the case of a telecom technician verbally abusing and groping a 19-year-old woman as “not the crime of the century” and it is the latest in a line of incidents whereby male Canadian judges have failed to display appropriate conduct while presiding over sexual-assault cases.

In 2014, Robin Camp, who has since resigned, asked an alleged rape victim why she was unable to “just keep your knees together”.

The head of the Quebec Bar Association has called the latest case “deplorable” and the Senate is considering a bill that would require judges to undergo sexual-assault law training, a move which was introduced in Ontario in May of this year.

Figaro is yet to be sentenced and has appealed his conviction.

https://www.the-pool.com/news-views/...d-be-flattered

[Toy Soldier]

He didn't just tell her she should be flattered... he basically suggested that she secretly WAS flattered . The part about the driver wearing aftershave is particularly bizarre. "How can it have been assault? He smells lovely."

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

He didn't just tell her she should be flattered... he basically suggested that she secretly WAS flattered . The part about the driver wearing aftershave is particularly bizarre. "How can it have been assault? He smells lovely."

I know right and saying she was over weight but had a nice face? :/

I wonder would he be flattered if the guy licked his face?

[RichardG]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

He also complimented the accused perpetrator. According to CBC News, the judge said: “He looks good and doesn't seem his age… We can see from his testimony… that he has nice manners and that he likes to wear cologne – with Versace when he goes out, and with other less-expensive colognes during the week.”

lol wtf

it must of been so surreal for the victim and her family to sit through this trial? certainly not the way they expected it to go.

[Tom4784]

It's no wonder rape convictions tend to be so low when you have judges like this in the system.

No way someone with such poor judgement and a lack of morality should be a judge.

[jaxie]

Plus the guy was 49 and she was 17. So 17 year olds should be flattered some dirty old sod nearly as old as her grandad wanted to slobber on her and grope her. What planet is this stupid man on?

How do they find and qualify these judges? That sort of attitude shouldn't be sitting in judgement anywhere.

[smudgie]

I just can't believe this is real.
Canadian...sounds more like something from the Dickensian era.

[Amy Jade]

Needs firing.

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's no wonder rape convictions tend to be so low when you have judges like this in the system.

No way someone with such poor judgement and a lack of morality should be a judge.

I agree
And this is why so many suffer in silence.

[Cherie]

The head of the Quebec Bar Association has called the latest case “deplorable” and the Senate is considering a bill that would require judges to undergo sexual-assault law training, a move which was introduced in Ontario in May of this year.


They need training in common sense?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

The head of the Quebec Bar Association has called the latest case “deplorable” and the Senate is considering a bill that would require judges to undergo sexual-assault law training, a move which was introduced in Ontario in May of this year.


They need training in common sense?

what a waste of tax payers money, if he has that little common sense he should really not be in a job like that

[LeatherTrumpet]

"he likes to wear cologne – with Versace when he goes out, and with other less-expensive colognes during the week.”

Its a good system, save the pricey stuff for weekend raping

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

what a waste of tax payers money, if he has that little common sense he should really not be in a job like that

PC gone mad?

just sack him, and move on

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

PC gone mad?

just sack him, and move on

But yes I agree

[Kizzy]

It's great it's being made the huge unacceptable deal it is hopefully the lessons learnt will trickle down into our own establishment.