After a hard-fought legal battle with local law enforcement, Aden Withers has settled her civil suit against the Kelowna RCMP.
In 2012, at just 17 years old, Withers reported a sexual assault to the Kelowna RCMP. However, she was subject to brutal and victimizing questioning, in which she was asked if she was 香蕉视频直播渢urned on香蕉视频直播� while she was raped.
She filed a civil lawsuit against the detachment and the interrogating officer Cpl. Kenneth Hall in June 2019.
READ MORE: Civil suit brought against Kelowna RCMP officer after 香蕉视频直播榓bhorrent香蕉视频直播� interrogation
On January 27, 2019, the two parties reached a settlement which Withers said she香蕉视频直播檚 satisfied with.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 feeling relieved and tired,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 over and done with, thank goodness.香蕉视频直播�
Though the details of the settlement are confidential, Withers said a 香蕉视频直播渕ore fullsome香蕉视频直播� review will be undertaken at the detachment.
香蕉视频直播淚 feel like payouts are always an excuse towards Aboriginal people to make it seem like what they did was right,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Withers said if she hadn香蕉视频直播檛 brought her case to the public香蕉视频直播檚 attention along with the issue of rape culture in Kelowna, things likely would have turned out differently.
香蕉视频直播淚 think the outcome would香蕉视频直播檝e been a lot different,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淏ringing this to the media definitely impacted the outcome of the settlement.香蕉视频直播�
While the experience was draining for Withers, she encourages other rape survivors to share their stories.
香蕉视频直播淟ots of people have come to me,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t feels good because that means people are paying attention to the rape culture in Kelowna.香蕉视频直播�
Over the last six months Withers has been an advocate for surviors, by sharing her story through various mediums and events.
The Kelowna RCMP confirmed all legal claims related to Withers香蕉视频直播� experience have been settled.
香蕉视频直播淲e regret this incident and remain committed to improving how our employees respond to victims and investigate allegations of sexual assault,香蕉视频直播� said Staff-Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, senior media relations officer with the RCMP香蕉视频直播檚 E Division.
香蕉视频直播淭his incident highlighted the importance for the RCMP to continue to review and update our sexual assault investigative training, practices and policies.香蕉视频直播�
As first reported in the 香蕉视频直播 on Oct. 25, 2019, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.
The RCMP recently said completed an internal review of the extremely high number of sexual assaults that were deemed 香蕉视频直播渦nfounded香蕉视频直播� by police in 2018 and 2019, however, the results have not yet been made public.
READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP completes internal review of sexual assault cases deemed 香蕉视频直播榰nfounded香蕉视频直播�
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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