Our twisted justice system :(

**SilverStarfish** · 06-06-2007 08:57

This story was all over the news last night:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news...809512963.html

A female teacher from Brisbane will face trial on more than 200 charges of sexually assaulting a female pupil over a two-year period.

The 26-year-old woman, who cannot be named, was ordered to stand trial late yesterday after a drawn out committal hearing process.

The teacher was arrested in March last year and charged with 92 counts of unlawful and indecent dealing with a child under 16, while in her care.

After appearing in Beenleigh Magistrates Court for mention in June, police indicated they had charged her with 137 additional counts of indecent dealing with a child under 16 - taking the total number of alleged offences against the pupil to 229.

Police allege the woman, who taught at a school south of Brisbane, first assaulted the girl in 2003 when she was 13 and continued the abuse until she was 15.

Yesterday in Beenleigh Magistrates Court, Magistrate Basil Gribbin ordered her to stand trial on all 229 charges.

The date of the trial is yet to be set.

For legal reasons they "can't" identify the teacher - who is being charged with over TWO HUNDREND cases of assault and indecent dealings with female students at her school.

And yet all over the news they were splashing the name and face of the brave teacher (who is a friend of mine) who stood up and reported the monster. The accused is protected, but it's the woman who we have to thank for standing up and protecting our children who has to bear the brunt of the media attention. Until the trial is over, it's her face people will see, her name that will be associated with the trial. She's the one who is going to be seen in some circles as the "dobber" and trouble maker.

It just seems unfair

**QTB** · 06-06-2007 08:59

That sucks!!

**SorenLorensen** · 06-06-2007 09:09

that truly does suck.

your friend should be so proud of herself, she has made the lives of many children better, she should not have to live with all the attention and if she is getting attention while they are at it they should give her an award of some sort......she deserves it

**Emily 85** · 06-06-2007 09:13

your friend is an amazing person

**PunkyDiva** · 06-06-2007 09:25

Ditto to what Emily said.

Is there some sort of leave from work (stress, long service etc) your friend could take just to have a break away from media spotlight??

**kiah** · 06-06-2007 11:37

**Bewitched** · 06-06-2007 11:55

That really is the pits

My mum went through a similar thing when she dobbed in a paedophile at her work. They work with handicapped adults, so god only knows what this creep did to those vulnerable people

But because of the hush hush of it all, people assumed he was 'sacked because of her', that's all they knew. Mum ended up taking a three month transfer to a department she didn't even like just to get away from all the nasty 'dobber' attention.

**SilverStarfish** · 06-06-2007 13:54

You can remain anonymous if you call your council to report your neighbours barking dog - they legally cannot be told who complained! So why can't our justice system extend the same courtesy to people who are brave enough to make a stand on far more important issues?

The teacher who has been charged is obviously mentally unstable - so do you think she's going to be thrilled that a colleague reported her to the police? "Oh gee, I'm so glad you had me arrested. I now see the light and will mend my ways"

Who knows what sort of retribution could come of it? From the accused or the accused family. The school in question is in a relatively small community and my friend has school aged children.

**red crayon** · 06-06-2007 17:16

the whistleblower is always in a difficult position and, you're right, it isn't fair. i worked for the police for 10 years and whistleblowers were always treated atrociously there. people know who the bad teachers/coppers/doctors etc are but they just want the bad eggs to disappear. only the brave ones stand up and they suffer for it.

your friend is a brave person, faeml. i hope she gets through it all okay.

**RaryGirl** · 06-06-2007 21:10

Your friend is very brave - she can hold her head up high knowing that she has protected lots of children by being so brave. Anyone who thinks otherwise obviously doesn't care about the victims this teacher was abusing and honestly how would they feel if it was their child and it could have been prevented????