Serial groper’s no-jail sentence shows we ‘don’t care’ about women: advocate

An advocator for victims of gender-based violence says the condemnation handed down to a Vancouver serial groper reveals the systemic nonaccomplishment of the justness strategy to support women and girls.

Hussein Al-Shami pleaded blameworthy to sexually assaulting 4 women successful downtown Vancouver successful April 2023.

He was sentenced to 30 months of probation arsenic a portion of a conditional condemnation that volition permission him without a transgression grounds if helium abides by his merchandise conditions.

“There’s thing astonishing astir this astatine all,” said Angela Marie-MacDougall, enforcement manager of Battered Women Support Services.

“The connection is precise wide that we really don’t attraction astir unit against women.”

Former Crown authoritative Rob Dhanu, K.C., who was not progressive successful the case, said helium understands however the nationalist could person questions astir the case.

Dhanu said judges don’t often assistance conditional sentences, meaning determination whitethorn person been immoderate benignant of extenuating circumstances, specified arsenic a intelligence wellness contented oregon victims being unwilling to testify.

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“Typically conditional discharges are imposed for a play of 12-18 months. In this case, the justice sentenced Mr Al-Shami to a 30-month probationary period,” helium said.

“So that gives the tribunal and probation services an extended play of clip to supervise (him) portion helium is retired connected his probation conditions.”

MacDougall said random intersexual assaults are a nationalist information issue, and that cases similar Al-Shami’s make a “chill” among women and girls.

She added she was disappointed to spot the mandate missive handed to caller Public Safety Minister Garry Begg does not see a absorption connected curbing gender-based violence.

“What is the constituent of having a immense fund for constabulary and specialized constabulary interventions similar enactment crimes oregon a home unit portion if we are  … going to get to the constituent wherever we are plea bargaining distant immoderate benignant of accountability?” she said.

Global News is seeking remark from B.C.’s lawyer wide and nationalist information curate connected the case.