topic Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me in Community Spirit

Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

nero_bolt — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 22:00:52 GMT

Woman who accuses Opposition Leader Bill Shorten of rape says police failed her

A news paper video of the woman is here http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/woman-who-accuses-opposition-leader-bill-shorten-of-rape-says-police-failed-her/story-fni0fiyv-1227077027215

A WOMAN who claims she was raped by federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has accused Victoria Police of failing to investigate properly because of his position of power.

Earlier this year, authorities decided not to press charges against Mr Shorten because prosecutors felt that “there was no reasonable prospect of conviction”.

The woman, Kathy, asked that her surname not be published, but agreed to be photographed.

Interviewed by the Herald Sun in Queensland, she said the trauma of what she says happened to her had been exacerbated by what she sees as an inadequate police investigation.

“I had three main witnesses ... I gave them the phone number of one, her maiden and married names, told them she lived in Melbourne.

“The police told me they couldn’t find her,” Kathy said.

“But they went to all of Bill’s friends,’’ she said.

Mr Shorten’s press secretary Ryan Liddell last night referred to Mr Shorten’s statement in August: “The claim has now been thoroughly and rigorously investigated by police, as is entirely proper.’’

Mr Shorten said then: “I fully co-operated to clear my name. And that is what I have done ... The police have now concluded the investigation. The decision speaks for itself.”

A Victoria Police spokesman said the force was satisfied that the matter had been “fully investigated”.

Kathy told the Herald Sun she felt let down and devastated by how police had handled the matter.

“With another witness, the police tried to say she was influenced by the media, which doesn’t make any sense.

“I don’t think I had a hope in hell with the police because of who he is,” Kathy said.

“If Bill was just a regular guy I think it would have been different. The police would have had a load of evidence to do something.

“I left it in the hands of the police, and they did nothing.”

Kathy, now 44, alleges Mr Shorten raped her at a Labor youth conference in Portarlington in the winter of 1986, when she was just 16.

The community nurse completed a 19-page police statement with detectives from Victoria Police’s sexual offences squad last October 23.

The police rang me up in April and told me they had called Bill in for questioning.

“They then said the case was closed and that they weren’t going to reopen it,” Kathy said.

“They said I would not be able to get access to any of the evidence. They said I could apply through Freedom of Information but I wouldn’t get it.

“I never really had a leg to stand on. They have tried to bully me,” she said.

“ I have got rights, and they are trying to take away my rights. People are treating me like a nutcase.

“It doesn’t mean I’m stupid or I’m fabricating things.”

Kathy had a rapid rise in Young Labor when elected to the rural policy committee.

She became a delegate for party state and national conferences in 1986.

Soon after joining Labor she says she came to know Mr Shorten — himself a rising star in the party.

After he travelled to Wodonga to meet local members, Kathy says she began speaking to him on the phone regularly about party and policy issues.

Kathy says she and her sister went to Portarlington for the youth Labor conference during the winter of 1986.

Kathy says she was raped by Mr Shorten after being pushed into a bathroom in the early hours of the morning.

She says no one else was present. A number of Young Labor members had spent the evening drinking and smoking marijuana, she says.

In her police statement, Kathy outlined how she came to know Mr Shorten and what she said happened on the night in question.

Kathy says she was raped after a group had arrived back from going for a drive.

“There was a knock at the door,” Kathy says. “I thought it was my sister. I opened the door and it was Bill.”

Kathy says she and her sister left the camp the next day.

The Herald Sun has seen a police statement by Kathy’s sister, completed on October 23 last year, in which she confirms details about the location of the Labor youth camp and the people who were present.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/woman-who-accuses-opposition-leader-bill-shorten-of-rape-says-police-failed-her/story-fni0fiyv-1227077027215

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

bushies.girl — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 22:05:26 GMT

Yawn!

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

polksaladallie — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 22:08:44 GMT

She says no one else was present

"I had three main witnesses"

Which is it?

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

softail-joanie — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 22:44:03 GMT

A WOMAN who claims she was raped by federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has accused Victoria Police of failing to investigate properly because of his position of power.

Big surprize there- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMmmaLZL5kg

Aside from that little video, I can testify and have, in court in many cases that police do the very same thing and judges protect them, in one case, a judge ordered it. But it didn't do any good, maybe two people in this world believe me and I suspect that even they only claim to.

The woman in this case who i suppose could be telling the truth, might just have to swallow this and hold out some hope for justice in the next life. Least I couldn't push the issue without more of the same. From what I can tell, right and truth just has to take a back seat to position and power in this world. A sad reality

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

debra9275 — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 22:51:42 GMT

It was the first story on radio news last night by guess who... news ltd.

& we thought OK this has to be a deflection from something else going on

it's old news and it's been dealt with, who cares

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

lakeedge — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 23:00:14 GMT

Is this going to be another cover up by all the left media and the ABC. They covered up or just refused to deal with the slush fund Ms Gillard was dismissed from her postition at the law firm for.

Is this going to be Mr Shorten's downfall as he has not really denied the allegation he's just said the matter had been dealt with.

Mr Shorten has an unfortunate reputation re his amorous exploits.

If this poor woman has finally come forward and relayed her accuastions to the police she deserves a full and thorough investigation and not to be brushed aside.

Any woman deserves that.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

debra9275 — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 23:01:17 GMT

just reading your story there Nero, why did she wait till he was leader of the opposition before making her claims, she did have 20 years to bring it forward you know.

& why did she first break her story by posting it to a politicians page, in a very public way and place?

A Victoria Police spokesman said the force was satisfied that the matter had been “fully investigated”

The police do a good job, I believe in threm

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

***super_nova*** — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 23:08:16 GMT

@micasheen wrote:
Is this going to be another cover up by all the left media and the ABC. They covered up or just refused to deal with the slush fund Ms Gillard was dismissed from her postition at the law firm for.

I did not know that it is the "left media & the ABC" who decides criminal cases. Thanks for enlightening us.

As far as this rape allegations go; how can you proof or disproof something that may have happened many years ago?

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

lakeedge — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 00:43:23 GMT

@***super_nova*** wrote:
@micasheen wrote:
Is this going to be another cover up by all the left media and the ABC. They covered up or just refused to deal with the slush fund Ms Gillard was dismissed from her postition at the law firm for.

I did not know that it is the "left media & the ABC" who decides criminal cases. Thanks for enlightening us.

As far as this rape allegations go; how can you proof or disproof something that may have happened many years ago?

If the police do their job properly they can (proof) sic or (disproof) many cold case invedtigations.

Is their heart in it? who knows. I just don't like the way a woman is treated if she alleges rape, she should be afforded all the investigation such an allegation reguires.

Picking on an alleged rape victim is something that should not be tolerated, it's like getting raped all over again.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

alexander*beetle — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 02:43:59 GMT

The police have stated that they undertook a very full and thorough investigation. In fact they worked harder on this case so as not to be seen to be doing any favours. There's nothing more they can do when they take the case to the public prosecutor and they are then given their reasons as to whether to proceed or not. So you can't blame the police as it is not their decision.

It's been suggested that if she really wants to pursue it, then she should now mount a civil case. And, if indeed, what she claims is true, then she should be fully support to go down that track.

Noone other than her and Bill Shorten are privy to the truth and a civil case will hopefully bring that out. That aside, one can't help but wonder why she didn't go through the normal processes when reporting it. And I guess none of us will ever know why that is.

If it is found to be true then I hope she gets the results she needs to help her heal. If it is found to be untrue then I hope the law comes down hard on her.

And it has nothing to do with the left and the ABC. They are just ridiculous accusations.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

freddie*rooster — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 03:21:44 GMT

Sounds like another Ashby case I wonder if she will do a 60ty minutes story for payment of course.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

***super_nova*** — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 04:18:36 GMT

@micasheen wrote:

Picking on an alleged rape victim is something that should not be tolerated, it's like getting raped all over again.

It was her decision to go public; she could have gone to the police instead. I imagine going to the media and talk about "it" would be like being raped all over again. There are things that most normal people talk about with their best friend, or their therapist. Many people find court case too much, because they do not want to live through it again. I do not trust people who announce rape on TV.

And after all this time it boils down to one side saying "you did" the other saying "I did not". How do you decide who is telling the truth? The thing is that such allegations are impossible (in many cases) to disprove, and the mud will stick, and I bet this story will be trotted out any time Shorten starts gaining on Abbott.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

shepherdsrule — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 04:49:00 GMT

Just for the record, can't stand Shorten any more than I can stand most poli's, but seriously, statute of limitations people, not to mention, how easy to pop up XXX amount of years later and accuse someone of anything, especially a prominant someone.

If this is genuine, I feel for the woman (girl at the time), I really do, and fully expect and accept many to say she would be too scared at the time to make a complaint, as many are......

but there has to be the doubt, so many years later, no DNA, no reliable witness, and if it is a false accusation...................

as Supa said - " I do not trust people who announce rape on TV"

or IMO - too many years later to allow the alleged crime to be properly investigated.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

***super_nova*** — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 08:53:11 GMT

@micasheen wrote:
If the police do their job properly they can prove or disprove many cold case investigations.

I think you have been watching too much TV. "Cold cases" that were originally reported, and forensic evidence collected & stored, sometimes can be solved years later as new technology become available.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

tezza2844 — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 10:39:54 GMT

This reminds me of the” Recalled Memories” many years ago, where “ victims” accused people of rapes, bashings etc. A lot of these charges were followed through and found to be bogus. These memories usually occurred after a visit to your friendly quaint headshrink.

The “victim”usually had other issues and was more interested in financial settlement and publicity more than justice. The damaged to peoples reputations was immense and they were never able to rectify the situation.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

the_hawk* — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:52:01 GMT

Not surprised at all, its the way it works

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

poddster — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:11:41 GMT

All you have to do is consut history to see the grubiness of all the Labor leaders, it is a prerequisite to qualify for the position.

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

the_hawk* — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:19:51 GMT

its not just labor, both parties are full of coruption from the top down .

deals for benefits

changing laws for mates

political donations for turning a blind eye (protection)

changing media laws to get favourable press

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

the_hawk* — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:25:15 GMT

oh I forgot, scholarships for PMs daughter, its not like she needed it above someone more deserving that will miss out on an education because of back room deals.

after all I thought that what scholarships are for, to help a brilliant mind that's financially poor, silly me in this age of entitlement

Re: Shorten rape accuser: Cops failed me

azureline** — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:45:42 GMT

There could be many reasons she didn't report it before this but..............the way she did is probably indicative of her not being traumatised over it (still)

I suspect a report to the police would be your usual response wouldn't it?

I don't know if she is being truthful but with no evidence, no actual witnesses and the investigation done, it's time to let it go....... or take further civil action.