|
In Reply to: Exposing the Family Leadership on SA posted by anovagrrl on August 21, 2003 at 13:24:34:
Sadly my children were sexually abused by an older stepbrother AFTER we left TF. How ironic. They eventually laid charges and went to court. It took them a long time to get to that point though. It was a terrible ordeal for them and really took its toll on all of us. The defendant pleaded not guilty and his father paid for a good lawyer and the case was dismissed after waiting two years. However, they were able to apply for victims compensation (only because they pressed charges) and won their compensation case. It was not the money but the recognition that a crime was committed against them that put it all to rest. They felt somewhat vindicated and the money of course did help. I just want to emphasise how much courage they had to take those steps and what a hard road that two years was for them. It is important that victims know that even if the perpetrator is not found guilty there are still steps they can take to be recognised as victims of crime.
