The recent gang rape case of a girl in California has raised many questions, and many people may be responsible in some way for what happened and not putting an end to it, but few may be charged, legal experts say. The 15-year-old girl was beaten, robbed, and raped by ten people for over two hours. Why the school wasn’t more prepared to help the girl? Why did so many teenagers stand there, take photos and watch? Why didn’t anyone report it sooner?
The parents of the girl released a statement yesterday through their church pastor that they do not want the violence to continue, but would rather people do something constructive with their anger about this situation. They suggested volunteering, or helping a neighbor, but just do something in a constructive manner.
In California, a minor is considered a person 14 and under, so the bystanders cannot be charged in any wrong doing for not reporting the incident while it occurred. But if the bystanders actively participated in the raping either by stopping her from leaving, or cheering the rapists on, then they may be brought up on criminal charges, according to information contained in the CNN video below.
The “bystander effect” is when people do not offer help in an emergency situation, according to Wikipedia. The term was coined in the 1960s after people heard or watched someone murder another person, and they did nothing out of fear that something might be done to them. It may or may not apply to this situation.
The school itself did not account for the number of students in attendance at the dance and their whereabouts, and the school will most likely be charged with several lawsuits.
In Utah, three former Brigham Young University students were charged with gang rape in 2004 of another BYU student, and were set for trial in 2005. The students were acquitted when the district attorney wouldn’t take the case.
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Comments
TO THOSE GUYS WHO WATCHED,JUST THINK NEXT TIME IT MAY YOUR LITTLE SISTER OR PERHAPS YOUR GIRL FRIEND. YOU ARE ALL COWARDS.TO THE GIRLS WHO WATCHED JUST THINK IT MAY BE YOU NEXT TIME OR MAYBE YOUR LITTLE SISTER.YOU ARE ALSO COWARDS. TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO ADMIT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA ,I HOPE YOU GET YOUR REAR SUED OFF. THE NEWS ACCOUNTS I HAVE READ SEEM TO OFFER TOO MANY EXCUSES FOR THE CRIMINALS WHO DID THIS. THEY SHOULD BE LOCKED UP FOREEVER. FOR RICHMOND CITZENS CALL SHERIFF JOE AND DIRTY HARRY TO CLEAN UP YOUR TOWN.MCSO.ORG BEST WEB SITE EVER. FORGET ABOUT
Absolutely for this idiots who took pictures and watched the whole thing. They are worse than the people who were beating, robbing, raping the little girl. Absolutley discusting towards everyone who was there. ******* scums.
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