Via commenter Fem at Ideologically Impure comes this rape story out of New Zealand. It’s hardly original, but it is an exemplar of the genre.

Warm up your Rape Apologist Bingo cards (I think credit should go to Shakesville for this, but I can’t find the original). This one’s heavy on the top left hand corner.

[Possible trigger warning: single-line not particularly graphic description of sexual violence.]

Stuff NZ: Former Crusader fined over grope

[…] Paringatai pleaded guilty to indecent assault a month ago, after the charge was reduced from sexual violation.

Paringatai, who is now living in Australia, grabbed the bottom of a woman he did not know at a social function in Christchurch in May 2007. The 22-year-old woman felt a finger penetrate her vagina through two layers of clothing and Judge Neave described it as “humiliating and devastating ordeal”. […click through to the full report for victim impact statement]

In negotiations before the sentencing, Paringatai had agreed to make a voluntary emotional harm reparation payment of $10,000 to the woman. Judge Neave said he wanted to make it quite clear this was a way of showing his remorse and because of his concern for her. It was not a matter of making the problem go away by waving his chequebook.

Defence counsel Jonathan Eaton said it turned out that a drunken, impulsive act that lasted a couple of seconds had caused harm and had lasting consequences for all those involved.

It had brought shame for Paringatai and his family, teammates, coaches, and the sport which had occupied him fulltime since he was 19 years-old.

He had written letters of apology, and Mr Eaton expressed those sentiments in court.

Paringatai had unquestionably permanently lost the opportunity to represent New Zealand at rugby, Mr Eaton said. He had been forced to ply his trade overseas – he has been playing in Ireland and in Japan – and there were serious questionmarks over whether his career could now survive his guilty plea and conviction.

Judge Neave referred to Paringatai possibly believing at the time that his status as a professional rugby player gave him a greater entitlement to respect. There was hypocrisy in the community being happy that these young men were paid large sums of money, and consistently telling them they were wonderful. It was hardly surprising if Paringatai ended up with an inflated idea of his own importance.

He accepted that Paringatai had never intended his actions to be as intrusive as they were.

He noted that afterwards, Paringatai had been asked whether offence-related sexual issues needed to be considered.

He replied: “Nah. I was just being a meat-head.”

Judge Neave fined Paringatai $2500 but stopped short of imposing a supervision sentence, because he now lived in Australia. The crown had sought a community work sentence.

Must be clear skies. I can hear heads exploding from here.

[image source]

Categories: gender & feminism, law & order, social justice, violence

Tags: bigotry