Article content

A Calgary judge on Tuesday declined a Crown request to read aloud the victim-impact statement of a rape victim, sparing her assailants from hearing the effect the crimes had on her.

Provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk would not allow Crown prosecutor Zailin Lakhoo to read the teen’s statement in open court, even though the victim had requested she do so.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Calgary judge refuses prosecutor's request to read teen rape victim's impact statement in court Back to video

Lakhoo told Semenuk the victim did not wish to read the statement herself in front of the two men who brutally assaulted her 20 months ago, brothers Corey and Cody Manyshots, and instead wanted the prosecutor to read it for her.

Semenuk questioned the authority of someone other than the victim to read in the statement, but was told the Criminal Code permitted him to allow it.

Despite that, he declined to have it read by Lakhoo.

“The record will show that the victim-impact statement has been marked an exhibit,” he said. “I’m not going to allow the Crown to read it into the record having regard to the publication ban (on the victim’s identity).”