I have been deeply disturbed by the recent court case where two 16 year old girls were gang raped by three men. The girls were on their way home at about 1am and were having difficulties getting a taxi from Beverley Hills station. These men pulled up in their car, jumped out and surrounded the girls, forcing them into the car at knife-point (though this information was deleted from the girl's statements and therefore from the court hearing, in order to ensure a successful plea-bargain with the offenders). These three men, without remorse held the girls at knife point, and took it in turns to rape them both, over and over again for around five hours. You could imagine their terror - not knowing whether they would live or die and the humiliation of being used as a piece of meat with no regards to their tears and cries for help. The three men were sentenced yesterday. Two were given five (parole - 2 years) and six (parole - 3 years) year jail terms - the other, just one year, which means that he will be out in three weeks as he has already served a year awaiting trial. One of the men who migrated here eight years ago, said he had no idea that it was against Australian law to pick up young girls and gang rape them at knife point. This seems to be one of District Court Judge Megan Letham's excuses for her ruling. Another was that the boy's father had died the previous year. These are not excuses. There are no excuses. The charge of kidnapping was never even considered due the absence of that information from the girl's statements. It was in fact, made out that the girls went willingly which somehow manages to translate into a lighter sentence. Regardless of whether they went willingly or not, no one deserves to be brutalised in this way. You may be aware the controversy and media attention that has surrounded this case but THIS IS NOT A RACIAL ISSUE, simply a plea to the Law Enforcers of this country to ensure that the punishment fits the crime - do not let 'political correctness' influence (or bully) the courts. Send a message to the wider community that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. We should be protecting our women and especially our CHILDREN. The girls were only 16 years old when this heinous crime was committed. One is about to sit her HSC so you can imagine how this result will be affecting her right now. This petition is to voice the public's extreme disapproval of judges 'going soft' on rapists and that we demand justice. It will be printed and sent to Premier Bob Carr, Prime Minister John Howard, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, Police Commissioner Peter Ryan, Federal Minister for Justice Chris Ellison, Democrat Leader Natasha Stott-Despoja, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and all major radio stations. Please copy and paste this email, and add your name to the bottom of this list. If you are the 50th (or 100th, 150th, 200th etc...) please copy the below address into your TO box and forward. callforjustice@hotmail.com Please send this email on to everyone, male and female. This is a community issue. Help us protest against Australia becoming an unsafe place for women. 1. Rachael Brown, NSW 2. Samantha West, NSW 3. Claire Forrest, NSW 4. Roger Pearce, NSW 5. Gabrielle Santino, NSW 6. Sarah Whitaker, NSW 7. Sarah Stanbridge, NSW 8. Louisa Worladge, NSW 9. Melissa Siasat, NSW 10.Lesley-Ann Dunn, NSW 11.Carole Toth NSW 12.Linda Meinrath NSW 13.Julie Barrow NSW 13.Nicola Barrow NSW 14.Bernadette canty NSW 15.Janet Jordan, NSW 16. Pam Boyle, NSW 17. Jacqueline Spencer, NSW 18. Lavinia Harris, NSW 19.Ramona Schulz, NSW 20. Yvette Thrift, NSW 21. Laura Chuck, NSW 22. Karen Brissett, NSW 23. Janine Londregan, NSW 24. Christine Burns,NSW 25. Vernette McLean, NSW 26. Alison Lywood. NSW 27. Shannon Jones, NSW 28. Ashlie Moore, NSW 29. Megan Motto, NSW 30. Eddie Lee,NSW 31.Garry Lee, NSW 32. Glenn Sadio, NSW 33.Connie Williamson, NSW 34.Gloria Turner NSW 35.Debbie Field NSW 36.Allison Sheedy NSW 37.Cindy Brooker NSW 38.Paula Field NSW 39.Florence O'Connell NSW 40.Craig Riddle NSW 41.Shane Ford NSW 42.Angel Carter NSW 43.phyllis Ford NSW 44.Valerie Weir nsw 45.Alan Weir nsw 46.Adam Weir QLD 47.Nathen Weir QLD 48. Leah Weir Qld 49. Eden Weir nsw 50.Liz lock NSW ===== http://www.imagestation/members/yayla my photo album http://www.imagestation/members/kuniya Heidis album http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kooris our chat club you might like to join? http://travel.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Travel - Got Itchy feet? Get inspired!