Canadian Judge Under Fire For Light Rape Sentence and Comments on Victim

Manitoba Justice Robert Dewar is under attack for his sentencing of Kenneth Rhodes, 40, for sexual assault. Dewar gave Rhodes just a two-year conditional sentence to be served at home for raping a 26-year-old woman. Dewar appeared to blame the victim in part for the attack.

Dewar noted that “sex [was]in the air” and made note of her dress as part of the context leading to the rape. Dewar noted “[t]his is a different case than one where there is no perceived invitation. This is a case of misunderstood signals and inconsiderate behaviour.”
However, victim rights advocates noted that Rhodes made repeated passes at the victim who was intoxicated and that she was so traumatized by the assault that she fled virtually naked into the woods.

The judge is now the subject of judicial complaints over the sentencing.

Source: Winnipeg found on Reddit.

Jonathan Turley