Judge Calls Mugging Victim 'Stupid'

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Judge Calls Mugging Victim 'Stupid'

WINNIPEG (Reuters) - A Canadian mugging victim got less than he bargained for in court when the judge called him ``stupid'' for failing to be careful in a rough neighborhood, and then let his attacker go, a local newspaper reported on Thursday.

``If you walk around jingling money in your hand...it's like walking in the wolf enclosure at the city zoo with a pound of ground beef in your hand,'' Judge Charles Rubin was quoted as saying by the Winnipeg Free Press.

The theft of C$12 ($8.15) took place earlier this year after the man, 46, left a store late at night and was approached by two men, one of whom grabbed the money he was holding in his hand.

The judge said he was not satisfied there was evidence of a robbery but called the victim a ``stupid civilian, who admits that he was stupid'', the newspaper said.

The western Canadian city of Winnipeg, with a population of 700,000, has several rough areas and the neighborhood where the incident took place is notorious as a high-crime area frequented by drug dealers.

The victim told the newspaper he was ``insulted'' by the judge's remarks and groups working to improve their neighborhood's reputation were angered by the comments. The prosecutor's office is considering an appeal.

(But you're not allowed to carry a gun? Huh? Criminals 1, Victims 0)

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), July 21, 2000

Answers

Well, we can't all be smart - not even if we're judges...

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), July 22, 2000.

Lighten up, you two. Give the .govs time, and all will be well. As soon as the new order is in place, the state will whither away, crime will cease, and all will dwell in peace and safety.

Now, about that bridge . . .

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), July 22, 2000.


"judge Charles Rubin"? Not Ruben right?

Won't argue with Rubin's opinion of the victim but certainly with his disposition of the case. If stupid meant fair game then most of us wouldn't find justice in the courts. Bad judge.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), July 22, 2000.


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