Qld: Rape victim could sue state, says lawyer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2007
Qld: Rape victim could sue state, says lawyer

A senior lawyer says the 10-year-old victim of a gang rape on Queensland's Cape York
Peninsula .. could sue the state for negligence.

Six youths and three adults raped the girl in the community of Aurukun last year ..

and all escaped jail.

Prominent Queensland lawyer BRUCE SIMMONDS says Premier ANNA BLIGH has admitted the
Child Safety Department had let the girl down.

The department removed her from a foster family in Cairns .. and sent her back to the
same community where she'd previously been sexually assaulted.

Mr SIMMONDS says this means the girl will be able to claim compensation as a victim
of crime .. and hold the state liable for further compensation.

He says the state breached its duty of care to the child .. and she has until the age
of 21 to lay a claim.

AAP RTV rad/pjo/tm/bart

KEYWORD: GANG LAWYER (BRISBANE)

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