The campus of St. Michael’s College School. Photo: Google Maps.
December 2019
The three accused former St. Michael’s College students convicted in the brutal broomstick sodomy rape of a fellow St. Michael’s student, one that was videotaped and shared among their peers, received their sentence in a Toronto courtroom on 19 December and it has provoked outrage for its leniency.
The three teens, whose identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were all sentenced to two years probation for this horrific crime; one of whom filmed it on a cell phone and distributed it to others.
Shockingly, no custodial sentence was given, despite the recommendation of Crown attorney Erin McNamara, who “implored the judge” to sentence the convicted teens to jail terms of between 10 and 15 months.
Defence lawyer Rachel Lichtman stated the sentence was “just and fair.” She further stated that the accused have suffered as they had to endure being in court and the media coverage, something Justice Brian Weagant echoed in his written judgement, adding that one of the boys personally faced threats.
Why should anyone care about the feelings of the accused? They committed a horrific crime. Sure, no physical harm should come to them as we are above vigilante justice, but their hurt feelings should be of no concern to anyone.
I have no doubt that they now regret what they did and will have to live with the knowledge of what they did for the rest of their lives, but how is that really important in comparison to the physical and emotional injuries the victims suffered. While the physical injuries will heal, the emotional injuries will likely stay with the victims for the REST of THEIR lives.
While no sentence would ever really be enough, nor change what happened, a very harsh sentence would demonstrate to everyone, including teens, that no one deserves to be brutalized in the way this young student was, as was another student, who was similarly brutally raped with a broom handle in a separate incident. The convicted teens will see their paltry sentence end in two years. The victims have received a life sentence.
In a statement Thursday, St. Michael’s said it continues to pray for “all of the individuals involved and their families.” You had better do more than that!
Another student is scheduled to go on trial next year.
Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/6316557/survivor-39-finale/?utm_source=GlobalBC&utm_medium=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0oDLaYGMxJ2a-vWuKOLPB2n-p7ay0BwMk4oSlXRUOOnj6okqL7zEi1lYM, https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/three-get-probation-in-st-michaels-college-sex-assault.
“Sadly, what happened to Kellee on Survivor this season is the same sort of painful scenario that plays out every day across industries and occupations, and up and down the wage scale: someone is treated inappropriately in a working environment and is concerned they will be retaliated against for raising the issue with management — only to have those exact fears come to pass.”
