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| Brock Turner: Father's defence of Stanford sex attacker sparks outrage | Brock Turner: Father's defence of Stanford sex attacker sparks outrage |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A statement by the father of a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexual assault in California has led to an angry reaction on social media. | |
| Brock Turner, 20, was sentenced to six months in county jail and probation for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman last year. | Brock Turner, 20, was sentenced to six months in county jail and probation for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman last year. |
| But his father said he should not have been jailed for "20 minutes of action". | But his father said he should not have been jailed for "20 minutes of action". |
| Social media users who criticised his remarks also shared the victim's impact statement, which was read out in court. | Social media users who criticised his remarks also shared the victim's impact statement, which was read out in court. |
| Prosecutors said that in January 2015, Turner had been seen by two witnesses sexually assaulting the woman, who was lying on the ground, unconscious, on the Stanford campus. | Prosecutors said that in January 2015, Turner had been seen by two witnesses sexually assaulting the woman, who was lying on the ground, unconscious, on the Stanford campus. |
| They said Turner tried to run away when challenged by the witnesses, but the pair tackled him and held him until police officers arrived. | They said Turner tried to run away when challenged by the witnesses, but the pair tackled him and held him until police officers arrived. |
| A former top swimmer at the university, Turner was found guilty in March of three felony charges. Prosecutors wanted a sentence of six years in state prison for him, the Mercury News reported. | A former top swimmer at the university, Turner was found guilty in March of three felony charges. Prosecutors wanted a sentence of six years in state prison for him, the Mercury News reported. |
| His sentencing, to six months and probation, also required him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. | His sentencing, to six months and probation, also required him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. |
| In an excerpt of a statement to the court before the sentencing, Brock's father, Dan, said his son's life had been "deeply altered forever". | |
| "His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve," he said. | "His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve," he said. |
| "That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life." | "That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life." |
| Many Twitter users reacted angrily, both to the sentence and the tone of the father's letter. | Many Twitter users reacted angrily, both to the sentence and the tone of the father's letter. |
| Some 28,000 people have also signed a petition to recall the sentencing judge, Aaron Persky, for passing what they called a "lenient sentence". | Some 28,000 people have also signed a petition to recall the sentencing judge, Aaron Persky, for passing what they called a "lenient sentence". |
| Mr Persky said a harsher prison penalty would have had "a severe impact" on Turner. | Mr Persky said a harsher prison penalty would have had "a severe impact" on Turner. |
| In his decision, he said positive character references and Turner's lack of previous criminal record and remorse were mitigating factors. | |
| In an impact statement read out in court, the victim, now 23, addressed her attacker, saying his actions had left her emotionally scarred. | In an impact statement read out in court, the victim, now 23, addressed her attacker, saying his actions had left her emotionally scarred. |
| She criticised Turner for not admitting the crime and putting her and her family through an "invasive" and "aggressive" trial. | She criticised Turner for not admitting the crime and putting her and her family through an "invasive" and "aggressive" trial. |
| Later, the victim told Buzzfeed she was disappointed with the "gentle" sentence. | Later, the victim told Buzzfeed she was disappointed with the "gentle" sentence. |
| But "even if the sentence is light, hopefully this will wake people up," she said. | But "even if the sentence is light, hopefully this will wake people up," she said. |
| "I want the judge to know that he ignited a tiny fire. If anything, this is a reason for all of us to speak even louder." | "I want the judge to know that he ignited a tiny fire. If anything, this is a reason for all of us to speak even louder." |
| District Attorney Jeff Rosen said "the punishment does not fit the crime". | District Attorney Jeff Rosen said "the punishment does not fit the crime". |
| "The predatory offender has failed to take responsibility, failed to show remorse and failed to tell the truth. | "The predatory offender has failed to take responsibility, failed to show remorse and failed to tell the truth. |
| "The sentence does not factor in the true seriousness of this sexual assault, or the victim's ongoing trauma. Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape. Rape is rape." | "The sentence does not factor in the true seriousness of this sexual assault, or the victim's ongoing trauma. Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape. Rape is rape." |