Award ‘utterly inadequate’ for rape victim
NZPA Sydney The maximum award of $lO,OOO compensation to a young woman who was raped when attacked by four men was “utterly and totally inadequate,” said Mr Justice Cantor in the High Court at Sydney.
He made the criminal injury compensation award to a New Zealand woman, aged 21. who was attacked by the four men in Parramatta Park, Sydney, on the night of February 27, 1981.
The woman was rescued and the men arrested when police arrived on the scene., while on routine patrol. The men are Stephen Lawlis, aged 22, convicted on two charges of assault with intent to rape, two charges of indecent assault, and a charge of attempted buggery; Trevor David Browne, aged 20, convicted on a charge of rape; Spiros Stivactas. aged 27, convicted on a charge of rape; and Stephen Gregory Vincent, aged 20, convicted on a charge of indecent assault.
Lawlis, Browne, and Stivactas are serving prison terms and appeared in court while Vincent has been re-
leased on licence and was not in court.
Mr Justice Cantor said: “I do not find it necessary to relate the consequences which had flowed to the applicant both physically and emotionally as a result of these attacks on her.
“It is sufficient to say that the consequences have been gross and that psychiatrically and emotionally she has been grossly injured. “The limit of compensation which the legislature permits me to award in curcumstances of injury consequent upon criminal activity is utterly and totally inadequate.
“This woman's life has been grossly disturbed.
“The medical evidence before me indicates that her emotional life has probably been permanently impaired and there is considerable risk she will never be able to lead a normal sexual life with a member of the opposite sex as a direct consequence of the assaults and rape.”
His Honour ordered that $6OOO be paid out of the property of Lawlis and $2OOO each from the property of Stivactas and Browne.
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Bibliographic details
Press, 17 February 1983, Page 15
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332Award ‘utterly inadequate’ for rape victim Press, 17 February 1983, Page 15
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