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Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
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I am a support person for one of
the complainants in the Fernando trial. Father Lawn stated "does this
system create a better society?" Where a person in a position of
trust sexually abuses many people over a long period of time and refuses to
be accountable for this, there is no other legal recourse available. An
important and valid role of the criminal justice system is to make him
accountable and, hopefully, prevent further abuse. I agree with Father Lawn's comments
about healing. Dr Fernando's defence lawyers appeared to use all possible
court-approved means to deny credibility and validity to the complainants'
abuse experiences. I don't know if this was the
result of unintentional collusion, an objective and detached professional
view, or in a role as the proverbial "hired guns". In court, these women had no
character witnesses. Further, they had to listen to so-called people of
status in our community attest to Dr Fernando's character. By doing this then, rather than at
sentencing, they were being used to substantiate Dr Fernando's credibility
and therefore refute the complainants' credibility and experiences.
Unfortunately, this seems to be going on since the verdicts. It is very
difficult for healing processes to begin when the perpetrator and his
supporters are continuing to deny he has any responsibility and
accountability for the injury caused. Continued denial makes Dr Fernando
remain a serious sexual abuse danger in the future, and healing between the different
parties difficult. |
