Statute of Limitations
TV3 News ran a story on 2nd April about the need for a statute of limitations.
They interviewed Dr Felicity Goodyear-Smith (wife of MENZ Admin JohnP)
Photo: Felicity being interviewed on TV 3 news.
The call is endorsed by the doctor who launched a support group for men who claimed they had been wrongly accused of sexual crimes:
Dr Goodyear-Smith:
“If there is no corroborative evidence, there is no way to distinguish who is telling the truth [or] whose memory is accurate and therefore you can’t find someone guilty beyond reasonable doubt. That’s the reason we need a statute of limitations.”
Heather Henare from Women’s Refuge disagreed:
There is no threshold for women and children who have been abused – they know what’s happened to them and it’s really important that we believe woman’s stories and we support them.
Yeah its really important to believe them when they are pleading abuse until they change their minds due to morals or correct memory kicking in like in the Peter Ellis case. Many ‘victims’ changed their testimoney later in life but suddenly CYFS or whoever did not want to know about that as it did not suit their twisted filthy agenda.
Comment by Mark Lloyd — Tue 11th April 2006 @ 3:46 pm
Amen Mark
Comment by STAR — Tue 11th April 2006 @ 3:48 pm
There is no threshold for men and children who have been abused through false allegations – they know what’s happened to them and it’s really important that we believe mens’ stories and we support them.
Comment by bryan — Tue 11th April 2006 @ 3:59 pm
My children have no memory of ever living in the same house as me. Does that man it didn’t happen?
I have no recollection of pretty well anything prior my 3rd or 4th birthday. Did those years never happen?
I saw a street light appearing out the top of a tall palm tree. Was there no lamppost?
Memory changes. Especially when you are too young to discern between fantasy and reality.
I have not been alone with my children since the youngest was about 6 months old.
How easy it would be for me to build his or her’s memory of child abuse during that intervening time.
All I have to do is tell them that ‘it might have occurred’, and pretty well soon they will hear ‘it could have occurred’ … ‘it has occurred’.
But then again, maybe with the undying belief that children dont lie, maybe finally someone will believe that there really were monsters hiding in the dark shadows of my bedroom, and I could really hear voices.
Comment by Al D Rado — Tue 11th April 2006 @ 4:34 pm
Thankyou John for posting this, and Felicity for the wonderful advocacy work.
It means a lot to me to see the ‘recovered’ memory BS being challenged.
I myself have been duped by such BS a few times in my more naive past.
Thankfully I’ve moved on, as I believe some others should, and hopefully will with your healthy intervention.
Comment by Stephen — Wed 12th April 2006 @ 2:04 am
this is not a gender issue ,this senario happens to both male and female,some justified some not .It would be good to see womans refuge supported rather than constant put down by men who feel sorry for themselves ,Ive seen both sides painful for a woman or a man ,lets get support for both. Sexual abuse maybe a more an issue for men and true some unfounded but women are losing their children to ex husbands and cyps everyday and what help are they recieving .Instead of complaining about women getting it easy ,take each case in merit and help each other,losing children ,going through the courts etc is both painful for mothers or fathers
Comment by terri — Sat 22nd April 2006 @ 7:06 pm
actually ive gone of track ,i wanted to know if any dads have taken on cyfs and got there kids back would be interested in advice ,how you got on
Comment by terri — Sat 22nd April 2006 @ 7:12 pm
Hi guys, Four years my wife fought this old lady for custody of her son, she took my wife back and forth to court with every allegation possible and as she didnt get what she wanted she accused her of sexual abuse but neither her or cypfs wanted my wifes 4yr old son or police involved, it only went to family court and she won, i know what all you poor guys are going through as i am watching my wfe fall through the cracks
Comment by Hadi Akbari — Sun 16th March 2008 @ 12:56 pm