The executive director of Sarnia-Lambton's Sexual Assault Survivors Centre is expressing concern about the judicial system in the wake of Thursday's not guilty verdict in the sex assault trial of former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi.
Michelle Batty says they're not surprised by the ruling.
She believes the system often re-victimizes witnesses and the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is often very hard to prove in sexual assault cases.
"The issue with regards to consent are all pieces that really need to be fully understood," she says. "Because there is an acquittal or not guilty does not necessarily mean that the behaviour did not occur."
Batty feels the judicial system and parties involved in it could benefit from more training and education on the issue of sexual violence.
Batty says locally, there are a number of organizations available for support, "to assist someone who has been sexually assaulted, through the process and to assist them in moving forward."
"Any survivor who discloses, I would want them to know that we believe them," she says.
- With files from Dave Dentinger
