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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse in NZ |
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It’s hard to imagine the grief that local man Robert Sutton has been through. Accused of rape. Convicted of rape. Jailed for 10 years and forced to share a cell with a convicted murderer. And all that was based on lies. Mr Sutton, who many readers will know as the man who owns the Happy Angler store at Mourea, spent 10 months behind bars after being convicted in October 2005 of two violent rapes. The convictions were later quashed on appeal and he was released. Police decided not to try him a second time. The woman concerned, Marion Anne Carter, was a former partner. Now, as reported on page one today, she has this week pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, in that she gathered false evidence as part of her complaint. This case has taken a toll on this innocent man. He's shy of women. It's cost him about $100,000 in legal and other costs. He almost lost his business over it. All this begs the question: what happened to make this woman so vicious? The answer is their 10-year relationship had been rocky and there were arguments over money and business. Mr Sutton, understandably, is somewhat upset and wants her to pay a price. ``I'm pleased with the outcome, that they did charge her with perverting the course of justice. I think she deserves a prison sentence the same as I did,'' he told this paper. Our view? Marion Anne Carter is a disgrace. Her actions represent a bitter and twisted mind _ or a very sick one. What sort of person would gather false evidence to help wrongly jail another person. In one ugly sweep, she has delivered a slap in the face for every genuine rape complainant in this country. Rape victims have a terrible time as it is. They don't need others making up stories. So where to from here? Mr Sutton is right _ Carter should go to prison and get a taste of what he went through. And Mr Sutton deserves some compensation from the Government. Justice was not done in the first place. Thankfully, our appeal system worked in this case. |
