According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald: “During the trial the jury sent a note to the judge asking for more information about 'how exactly [the accused] took off her jeans’. 'I doubt those kind of jeans can be removed without any sort of collaboration,’ the note read.” That is, apparently, all it took for the jury to acquit. Even after testimony from the victim stating that she had no trouble getting her jeans off herself, the jury decided that the assailant (a navy cook) couldn’t have possibly managed to get them off by himself. She must have helped him, and, therefore, consented.

The fact that, in 2010, there are still people who honestly believe that basic clothing can somehow prevent or thwart an assault is disturbing. I’m not familiar with the Australian justice system, but I hope this case is re-tried.

[Feministing]

[Sydney Morning Herald]

Image courtesy About.com