Case of Raped Cree Girl Subject of Protest March

Thursday, August 19, 2004 at 14:41

About thirty demonstrators marched through Prince Albert yesterday to protest what they feel is a lack of laws protecting children.

The residents began their rally on the steps of the Court of Queen’s Bench before making their way down to the provincial courthouse.

Many of them feel the decision handed down in a Melfort courtroom last year was the greatest injustice they could think of in recent memory.

It was there that a judge allowed a man convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old Cree girl to serve out his sentence through an order of house arrest.

Prince Albert resident Karla Johnson says she feels such a ruling is an insult to children everywhere.

A group calling itself The Coalition for Judicial Reform organized yesterday’s march.

They say they will be watching the appeal of the man convicted of the assault when it comes up in October.