Cromm
June 24th, 2009, 07:12 AM
I was thinking about posting this for awhile... not really sure how some of you would react, but I think it's a story that needs sharing. It's not really my story, it's my sister's; and I would never dream of sharing it without her permission, but she's been more vocal in recent years about getting the message out, so here goes:
A number of years ago, my older sister (who at the time was 17), was walking home from a concert downtown. She had went with three of her friends, so she felt safe. Her friends got off the subway two stops before she did. Making the short trip from the subway to her bus stop alone, she was assaulted and raped. I won't go into details, but that part's actually worse than it sounds.
She went to the hospital where they did a lot of tests. I was too young at the time to fully understand what had happend; all I knew was someone had hurt my big 'sis. She stayed there for a few days for observation, but thankfully her body was not seriously injured and the STI tests all came back negative.
While she was in the hospital, she gave a description of the man who attacked her. My mom and dad wouldn't let me be in the room with her when she did that, but I watched through the window as the detectives talked and took notes. To this day I still remember the look they shared with each other. The look I now know to mean "Oh, that guy. Yeah, we know him."
The man was arrested the very next day and charged with several Class A indictable offences. My sister was forced to testify (which was yet another trauma) but he was found guilty. This ass wipe is currently serving a 25 year prison term.
Justice served, right?
Not entirely.
Added to the simple fact that taking away this man's freedom in no way equates to making things right for my sister, this story has the added tragedy of never having to have happened.
You see, my sister wasn't this man's first victim.
Only six months earlier charges against him for raping another young woman had been dropped because she had refused to testify. The Crown could have issued a subpoena, but chose to respect her wish to be left alone.
For a long time, I felt my sister had paid the price for this woman's cowardice. It's a horrible thing to say, I know this now, but for I long time I hated that other woman almost as much as I did the bastard who hurt my sister. It wasn't her fault of course. You can't help feeling what you feel: whether that be fear, or shame or anger... you just feel it. I get that now.
Still... I can't help but think how my sister's life, my family's life, would have been different if that other woman had come forward; or if the Crown pushed the issue.
Rape is a crime I can't even begin to comprehend, but if you're one of the many young women every year who fails victim to it, I would erge you, for the sake of every woman after you that that person may harm, report the crime and follow it through to the end.
Thanks for your time.
A number of years ago, my older sister (who at the time was 17), was walking home from a concert downtown. She had went with three of her friends, so she felt safe. Her friends got off the subway two stops before she did. Making the short trip from the subway to her bus stop alone, she was assaulted and raped. I won't go into details, but that part's actually worse than it sounds.
She went to the hospital where they did a lot of tests. I was too young at the time to fully understand what had happend; all I knew was someone had hurt my big 'sis. She stayed there for a few days for observation, but thankfully her body was not seriously injured and the STI tests all came back negative.
While she was in the hospital, she gave a description of the man who attacked her. My mom and dad wouldn't let me be in the room with her when she did that, but I watched through the window as the detectives talked and took notes. To this day I still remember the look they shared with each other. The look I now know to mean "Oh, that guy. Yeah, we know him."
The man was arrested the very next day and charged with several Class A indictable offences. My sister was forced to testify (which was yet another trauma) but he was found guilty. This ass wipe is currently serving a 25 year prison term.
Justice served, right?
Not entirely.
Added to the simple fact that taking away this man's freedom in no way equates to making things right for my sister, this story has the added tragedy of never having to have happened.
You see, my sister wasn't this man's first victim.
Only six months earlier charges against him for raping another young woman had been dropped because she had refused to testify. The Crown could have issued a subpoena, but chose to respect her wish to be left alone.
For a long time, I felt my sister had paid the price for this woman's cowardice. It's a horrible thing to say, I know this now, but for I long time I hated that other woman almost as much as I did the bastard who hurt my sister. It wasn't her fault of course. You can't help feeling what you feel: whether that be fear, or shame or anger... you just feel it. I get that now.
Still... I can't help but think how my sister's life, my family's life, would have been different if that other woman had come forward; or if the Crown pushed the issue.
Rape is a crime I can't even begin to comprehend, but if you're one of the many young women every year who fails victim to it, I would erge you, for the sake of every woman after you that that person may harm, report the crime and follow it through to the end.
Thanks for your time.