Judicial Commission of Victoria may decide magistrate Richard Pithouse’s fate
The Judicial Commission of Victoria could decide the fate of a magistrate who suggested a woman who claimed she had been raped might have suffered “buyer’s remorse”.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Judicial Commission of Victoria could decide the fate of a magistrate who suggested a woman who claimed she had been raped might have suffered “buyer’s remorse”.
Chief Magistrate Peter Lauriston refused on Friday to suspend magistrate Richard Pithouse, saying that though he had the power to do so it was “an inappropriate case” for him to exercise that power.
The commission was the only appropriate body to deal with the complaint, he said.
The Judicial Commission has refused to comment.
MAGISTRATE SLAMMED FOR HEARTLESS RAPE COMMENTS
PITHOUSE FAMILY VIOLENCE VICTIM COMMENTS SHOCK COURT
PRESSURE MOUNTS ON MAGISTRATE RICHARD PITHOUSE TO RESIGN
Mr Pithouse’s comments, revealed by the Herald Sun, were made during an October application to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for financial assistance.
The applicant, “Penny”, claimed to have been raped following a night of drinking in Melbourne.
Referring to a section of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act that says the tribunal must take account of the behaviour of the applicant and whether there had been provocation, Mr Pithouse suggested Penny “had put herself in that position” and added: “Intoxication is not an excuse for the purposes of the tribunal.”
Legally, intoxication is not a rape defence and an intoxicated person can’t consent to sex.