Local women’s advocacy group granted intervenor statues in Al-Rawi appeal
Posted May 29, 2017 05:59:48 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – A date has been set aside for a panel of judges in the Nova Scotia court of appeals to hear arguments on Justice Gregory Lenehan’s decision to find a Halifax taxi driver not guilty of sexual assault.
Bassam Al-Rawi was acquitted earlier this year, a decision that sparked outrage and protest.
A local women’s advocacy group has been granted intervenor status, and hopes to set a precedent when it comes to similar cases.
The morning and afternoon of Nov. 22 will see the panel reviewing the proceedings of what took place earlier this year.
Members of the Avalon Sexual Assault centre and the women’s legal education and action fund also known as LEAF have both been granted intervenor status.
Jackie Stevens is the executive director of Avalon, and tells NEWS 95.7 they will be giving insight and perspective on the issues.
“We will have legal experts who will be presenting,” said Stevens. “Specific explanations, details and analysis around sexualized violence, looking at gender stereotypes and addressing how those often are used.”
Stevens says that whatever happens, the hope is the case will be tried on law and not on perception and is eventually overturned.
