In a recent development, the sentencing in the Kelowna sexual assault trial has been delayed due to concerns about the length and content of the victim impact statement [d2c07aa9]. The survivor, referred to as Jane Doe, has been living in a nightmare since the assault took place on Christmas Eve, 2020. The defendant, Joshua Hawco, was found guilty of sexual assault on November 5, 2022, two years after the assault. Hawco had the option to elect for a trial by jury and judge or by judge alone, and he chose to proceed with both. Hawco filed an application for a 'post sexual assault conviction' mistrial, claiming his Charter rights were violated. The court denied the application. On the day of sentencing, Hawco's lawyer argued that the victim impact statement did not meet the standards outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada, and the statement was not read to the court. As a result, a new date for sentencing will be set on June 3 [d2c07aa9].
The delays in the sentencing of the Kelowna sexual assault trial have raised concerns about the impact on the survivor and the effectiveness of the justice system. The victim impact statement plays a crucial role in providing the court with information about the emotional, physical, and psychological harm suffered by the survivor as a result of the assault. The delay in sentencing due to the concerns about the victim impact statement highlights the importance of ensuring that the statement meets the legal standards outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada. This case serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by survivors of sexual assault in seeking justice and the need for a fair and efficient legal process [d2c07aa9].
In a separate incident in Ukiah, Mendocino County, a letter writer has expressed disappointment with the Ukiah Police Department and the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for dropping assault charges against her friend's attacker [07d41572]. The assault took place in March 2023, resulting in her friend being brutally attacked and ending up in the emergency room with a broken nose and multiple lacerations. Despite a year of court dates and retelling her story, all charges against the attacker were dropped. The letter writer criticizes the lack of obtaining readily available evidence, failure to contact witnesses, and failure to gather video evidence from a local business. The attacker has a history of domestic violence, leading the writer to question when violence against women will be taken seriously [07d41572].
Former star of The Bachelorette Katie Thurston revealed that she lost a legal case against her alleged rapist. Thurston shared a statement about her assault on Instagram, expressing disappointment in the justice system and hoping to help other survivors of sexual assault. She called 911 to report her assault and underwent a Sexual Assault Response Team examination. Despite following all the necessary protocols, Thurston felt let down by the justice system. She emphasized the importance of consent and encouraged others not to give up. Thurston had previously opened up about an assault that occurred over a decade ago during an episode of The Bachelorette [99a1834d].