Rape case uproar

Press, 28 December 1978, Page 6

Rape case uproar

NZPA Salt Lake City Utah women’s groups have vowed to seek the removal of a judge for freeing a man convicted of rape.

Last week, Judge Bryant Croft reversed a jury’s unanimous verdict that found Eugene Myers, aged 53, guilty of raping a 22-year-old woman last May. Judge Croft said he thought the victim invited the sexual assault by her dress and conduct. ! Eileen Hansen, representing Women United, said that Judge Croft’s remarks in reversing the verdict were sexist, egotistical, and immoral.

Myers, who was on parole for a 1967 sex offence when the attack occurred, is in the Utah state prison awaiting a parole violation hearing because of the case.

After reversing the jury’s verdict, Judge Croft said of the white victim: “She was sitting in a bar with a black man in a flimsy dress, taking his affection, eating his food, drinking his drinks — there’s a whole lot to be said here about mutual consent-” He said this week: “I’m not a racist and I’m not sexist. In this particular case, I did not think justice would prevail if this man was sentenced to prison for a crime I don’t think he committed.”