Summary of story from National Post, 24.2.11

A judge in Canada has decided that a convicted rapist will not go to jail because the victim asked for it. The Manitoba judge said the victim’s attire and conduct sent signals that “sex was in the air.”

Kenneth Rhodes, the rapist, was given a two-year conditional sentence last week which does not require him to go to jail. He was also ordered by the judge to write a letter of apology to his victim.

Queen’s Bench Justice Robert Dewar called Rhodes a “clumsy Don Juan” who may have misunderstood what the victim wanted when he forced intercourse along a darkened highway  in 2006.

Rhodes pleaded not guilty at the trial on the basis he thought the woman had consented.

Rapist’s defence lawyer Derek Coggan told the court: “The victim had a very different understanding of what was in the accused’s mind than he did.”

No kidding Mr. Coggan.