5 April 2012

Sexual assault at RMC Duntroon

| johnboy
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ACT Policing has arrested a 23-year-old man after police responded to a report of a sexual assault within the grounds of the Royal Military College, Duntroon early this morning.

At 2am today, the 21-year-old female victim contacted police to report that a man known to her had entered her house and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the residence.

Around 5am, ACT Policing Criminal Investigations detectives, with the assistance of Military Police, located the man within the grounds of Duntroon. The man agreed to accompany police to the City Police Station to assist in the investigation.

Around 2pm today the man was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He will face the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday, 7 April.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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floradora said :

It’s for the Director of Public Prosecutions and not the Department of Defence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

So when they’re found guilty – sexual assault or physical assault – does it then fall to the Department of Defence to do anything? Bring them to the table perhaps?

Or better yet, dishonourably discharge them, not keep them in their jobs and bend over backwards to protect them……

And yes, I speak from experience….

floradora said :

The Accused is entitled to the legal presumption of innocence – a fundamental human right embodied in Article 14(2) of the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been codified in the ACT in s22(1) of the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT).

It’s for the Director of Public Prosecutions and not the Department of Defence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

You forgot the code that is most applicable to the cadet in question. The Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth) applies to all members of the Defence Force regardless of where a criminal act was carried out.

In this case, the cadet *may* face charges under:
Sections 23 or 24 – Absent from duty / Absent without leave (max punishment: 12 mths confinement)
Section 29 – Failing to comply with a general order (max punishment: 12 mths confinement)
Section 31 – Obstructing a police member (max punishment: 12 mths confinement)
Section 33 – Assault, insulting or provocative words etc. (max punishment: 6 mths confinement)
Section 60 – Prejudicial conduct (max punishment: 3 mths confinement)

From memory of other criminal offences undertaken by ADF personnel, the cadet will front a civilian criminal court for the offences. The ADF can then take action using the DFDA on charges not yet dealt with by the civilian court. If charges are proven, the cadet will either be considered to have been sufficiently dealt with by the civilian court if imprisoned, or will be transfered to the Defence Force Correctional Establishment (DFCE) at Holsworthy in Sydney.

The RMC Commandant, in a reported press conference after the bail hearing, has lost no time in placing his personal views on the public record as to how he views matters of this nature, and whathe thinks will happen to the Accused if the charges are proved.

One possible reason for this rather curious outburst might be that he doesn’t wish to suffer the same fate as his AFDA colleague.

Those who advise the good Brigadier should urge him to dwell a pause of several marching paces before making any further public comment in matters that are before the Court.

The Accused is entitled to the legal presumption of innocence – a fundamental human right embodied in Article 14(2) of the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been codified in the ACT in s22(1) of the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT).

It’s for the Director of Public Prosecutions and not the Department of Defence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

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