Channel 9 News reported that a 42 year old man is in court on three charges of aggravated sexual assault and one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm of one woman and one count of sexual intercourse without consent of a second woman.
The case is currently before a magistrate. This commentary is relevant only to how the charges against him are described. It is up to the court to determine his guilt or innocence.
The man was not charged with having “sex” because sex is not a crime. It is only a crime where there is no consent. He was charged with sexual assault and rape (ie: sexual intercourse without consent).
A presumption of innocence, which he is absolutely entitled to, does not preclude accurately describing the charges for which he is in court. No one would describe someone charged with stealing a car as being accused of driving. This is no different.
Words matter. Accuracy matters. Using words accurately is supposed to be what journalist do.
As I have written before, headlines matter and using sex and rape interchangeably is both wrong and bad journalism.
FixedIt is an ongoing project to push back against the media’s constant erasure of violent men and blaming of innocent victims. If you would like to help fund it – even $5 a month makes a big difference – please consider becoming a Patron
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