Victims’ advocate on the ‘age-old stereotype’
Julie Lalonde is a victims’ rights advocate, author and educator in Ottawa and is among advocates following the trial.
Lalonde says some of the myths about sexual assault seem to be prevalent during the defence lawyers’ closing arguments.
Such myths include that women may be subject to sexual violence based on how they present themselves, if they consume alcohol or previous sexual activity.
“I’m unsurprised that the defence team is arguing that it was purely consensual and that it’s relying on this age-old stereotype, which is women do things, they regret them and then they call it sexual assault,” said Lalonde.
“There’s nothing surprising in what I’m hearing [in the trial], nor is there anything unusual in this case.”
But Lisa Kelly, an associate law professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., says there’s an important distinction between suggesting the defence lawyers are repeating myths or stereotypes and vigorously defending their clients “by challenging or at the least raising reasonable doubts about a witness’s credibility and reliability.”
“That’s the role of criminal defence counsel,” adds Kelly, who’s been following the trial. “That’s why we require that the Crown prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, because at stake, of course, are people’s liberties.”
