Aberdeen stupro sopravvissuto a guardare l’udienza di libertà vigilata per essere “fiera” per l’abusatore

>An Aberdeen sex attack survivor has been banned from watching her rapist’s parole hearing after being told it would not be “fair” on him.

>41-year-old Yvonne Duncan fought for the right to speak to the parole board when they make a decision on whether to release rapist Martyn Daniel, 42, from prison.

>However, the board refused her the opportunity to state her case in person in order to keep him behind bars.

>Now, they have written to Yvonne, denying her the chance to watch today’s hearing.

>Speaking to the Record, mum-of-three Yvonne, from Aberdeen, said: “They’ve told me I don’t have the right to be there as it’s at the discretion of the chair of the hearing and they have decided not to let me witness what goes on.

>Daniel was jailed in December 2017 for nine years and seven months, with an extension of three years’ community supervision, for sexual violence and brutality against Yvonne, another woman and a girl of 15.

>He was convicted of raping all three, over an eight-year period to 2015, and of a catalogue of sadistic violence against Yvonne.

>Daniel was also convicted of abduction in relation to two of his victims, an aggravating feature that experts consider underlines the extreme danger the offender poses, and of the assault to severe injury of one of his victims.

>Earlier this year, Yvonne wrote to the parole board requesting the right to witness the hearing, explaining: “I need closure and to witness remorse if any at all. It’s very important for me and my children that I get this.”

>The board’s reply said the panel chair had been consulted and had decided to exclude her from seeing today’s hearing.

>A statement of reasons attached says: “Whilst the panel recognises your legitimate interest in the case, it is not of the view that it is fair or necessary in the interests of justice for you to observe the prisoner’s hearing.”

>It adds that the panel is already “well informed” about the circumstances of the case, including representations Yvonne has made, together with other documents containing details of the offence in the parole dossier.

>It explains the families of murder victims are entitled automatically to attend prisoners’ hearings.

>In rape cases, however, the panel had discretion to allow it but told Yvonne “your observation of the hearing would compromise its procedural fairness”.

>It concludes: “The panel has taken your and the prisoner’s representations into account in coming to this decision.”