Victorian teenager ordered to stand trial over stepfather's murder

News.com.au ^ | January 13, 2009 | Kim Stephens

[hosepipe]

[ I believe you're the stupid one. ]

Maybe you're not stupid but in denial..
Were you abused as a child (or adult) ?...

[Citizen Blade]

If this had occurred in the United States (outside California or Massachusetts, at any rate) I don’t think ANY charges would have been brought against this girl in the first place; never mind going to trial.

You're probably right. Even if the killing did not technically fall under self-defense, I can't see a prosecutor putting this in front of a jury. All the defense needs is a couple of people on the jury who believe (rightfully so, IMO) that the "victim" here was a waste of oxygen.

[Mariebl]

..and it irritates overly sesitive type, too; so it's got THAT going for it... Which is NICE!

And, then think of the massive entertainment that it gives the not-so-sensitive types, who chuckle as they think of what a miserable place you must live in, that you're this jealous of people who live in other places. Bet you didn't realize you were making people so happy. By the way, I'd settle for anecdotal evidence, since I'm sure you can't supply statistics. And no, the Menendez brothers don't count--they claimed they were abused, but there wasn't any evidence of it.

[Vaduz]

Agree but why didn’t she tell the cops or someone else that may have helped her?

[gieriscm]

Agree but why didn’t she tell the cops or someone else that may have helped her?

Because most victims of sexual abuse, especially women, can't "just walk away". The stepfather had years of power over her, and probably made her believe the authorities wouldn't help. This is why she's going to need some heavy-duty counseling for a long, long time.

[MrEdd]

Your cluelessness is only exceeded by your hubris.

[LucyJo]

"She shot him so she didn't have to do it again ... a jury could form the view, albeit against a background of abuse, it was not committed in self-defence," he said.

He had been abusing and raping the child for years. "So she didn't have to do it again" sounds like self-defense to me.

Who knows the kinds of threats he had made toward her if she refused him or threatened to run away...that he would find her and kill her? He certainly threatened to kill her if she didn't obey him this time. She used the evidence of that threat to kill him so he wouldn't do it again.

[pepperdog]

Are you a guy?

[wastedyears]

Sounds like self-defense to me.

[Red in Blue PA]

Re: just what’s so stupid about walking away

First, where is she going to go?

Second, what about the 10,000 pictures?

No guilt in any way if the facts in the article are even remotely true. In fact, the prosecutor should be brought up on charges for inflicting additional guilt on the poor girl.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

The stepfather ...probably made her believe the authorities wouldn't help.

And now the authorities are proving it, and other victims are taking note. Even a shed full of bondage porn may not suffice to prove a child is a victim.

[TheConservativeParty]

Good for her, justice has been served.

[fernwood]

Sexual abuse is a lot different from physical abuse. Sexual abuse debases the victim so they feel they can not leave or tell another. They are made to feel that no one will believe them. Sexual abuse humiliates the victim. The emotional damage is much greater than a beating. A beating if one can heal is over and is easier to fight back or walk away. Sexual abuse of a young women makes them feel that is all they are worth so the debasement is greater.

That is why grown women will not walk away from sexual abuse and the physical threat of a shotgun is a real reason to accede to the sexual demands.

So yes I feel you are a male and it is easier for a male to leave once he becomes old enough.

This girl delivered her own justice and he deserved to be killed. I understand the dismemberment was to relieve her anger.

Since the state now is going to pile on the prosecution, I will be pleasantly surprised if she survives to trial. She is likely to suicide under the prosecution from authorities that failed to save her in the first place.

[SZonian]

Not sensitive. Calling you out. What you posted is an outright lie. Care to dispute it with the truth? You denigrate my adopted state with falsehoods and expect me to allow you and the many other FReepers cast aspersions upon those of us who call CA home for better or worse?

I don’t think VA is much better FRiend, rocks and glass houses come to mind.

SZ

[naturalman1975]

Follow up - charges dropped

[CaptRon]

I think that is a case of bad writing. I assume (I know, I know) that what is meant is thst the stepfather had forbid her seeing this guy but she took up with him 3 days after dear old stepabusers death.

[WayneS]

Excellent!

[Old Grumpy]

Good news. Thanks for the update.