After a hard-fought legal battle with local law enforcement, Aden Withers has settled her civil suit against the Kelowna RCMP.
In 2012, at just 17 years old, Withers reported a sexual assault to the Kelowna RCMP. However, she was subject to brutal and victimizing questioning, in which she was asked if she was 91裸聊视频渢urned on91裸聊视频� while she was raped.
She filed a civil lawsuit against the detachment and the interrogating officer Cpl. Kenneth Hall in June 2019.
READ MORE: Civil suit brought against Kelowna RCMP officer after 91裸聊视频榓bhorrent91裸聊视频� interrogation
On January 27, 2019, the two parties reached a settlement which Withers said she91裸聊视频檚 satisfied with.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 feeling relieved and tired,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 over and done with, thank goodness.91裸聊视频�
Though the details of the settlement are confidential, Withers said a 91裸聊视频渕ore fullsome91裸聊视频� review will be undertaken at the detachment.
91裸聊视频淚 feel like payouts are always an excuse towards Aboriginal people to make it seem like what they did was right,91裸聊视频� she said.
Withers said if she hadn91裸聊视频檛 brought her case to the public91裸聊视频檚 attention along with the issue of rape culture in Kelowna, things likely would have turned out differently.
91裸聊视频淚 think the outcome would91裸聊视频檝e been a lot different,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ringing this to the media definitely impacted the outcome of the settlement.91裸聊视频�
While the experience was draining for Withers, she encourages other rape survivors to share their stories.
91裸聊视频淟ots of people have come to me,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t feels good because that means people are paying attention to the rape culture in Kelowna.91裸聊视频�
Over the last six months Withers has been an advocate for surviors, by sharing her story through various mediums and events.
The Kelowna RCMP confirmed all legal claims related to Withers91裸聊视频� experience have been settled.
91裸聊视频淲e regret this incident and remain committed to improving how our employees respond to victims and investigate allegations of sexual assault,91裸聊视频� said Staff-Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, senior media relations officer with the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 E Division.
91裸聊视频淭his incident highlighted the importance for the RCMP to continue to review and update our sexual assault investigative training, practices and policies.91裸聊视频�
As first reported in the 91裸聊视频 on Oct. 25, 2019, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.
The RCMP recently said completed an internal review of the extremely high number of sexual assaults that were deemed 91裸聊视频渦nfounded91裸聊视频� by police in 2018 and 2019, however, the results have not yet been made public.
READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP completes internal review of sexual assault cases deemed 91裸聊视频榰nfounded91裸聊视频�
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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