News Releases: Domestic Violence Expert Warns: Supreme Court Ruling in ‘Giles v. California’ May Deter Domestic Violence Victims from Seeking Police Help, Make Prosecutions More Difficult

 

News Releases: Domestic Violence Expert Warns:
Supreme Court Ruling in
‘Giles v. California’ May Deter Domestic Violence Victims from Seeking Police Help, Make Prosecutions More Difficult

 

Statement of Esta Soler, President
Family Violence Prevention Fund

 

- “We have real concern that today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Giles v. California will make it less likely that victims of domestic violence will seek help from police, and more difficult for them to get justice from the courts.

We recognize the need to protect the rights of the accused, but there is also an urgent imperative to make it possible for prosecutions to succeed when victims have been murdered and thus cannot testify – and be cross-examined – in court.

There seems to be strong evidence that Dwayne Giles murdered Brenda Avie, shooting her six times even as she tried to get away. We hope that the evidence that will be admissible at re-trial will be enough to convict him once again – and that today’s Supreme Court ruling will not have a chilling effect on efforts to stop domestic violence and protect victims.”

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The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to end violence against women and children around the world, because every person has the right to live free of violence. More information is available at www.endabuse.org.