The Chief Victims Advisor says scrapping juries from sexual violence trials could result in more fact-based verdicts. 

Ruth Money believes it would be better for survivors - in part because judges must give reasoning for their verdict.

The idea's received some pushback, with one legal expert arguing jury trials are a foundation of the justice system. 

Money says jurors enter a court with bias, and mightn't understand nuances of sexual assault. 

"I've had survivors say to me - look, I was slammed around that courtroom like a tennis ball, I was rape-mythed, I was shamed, I was blamed."

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The Chief Victims Advisor says scrapping juries from sexual violence trials could result in more fact-based verdicts.&nbsp;
Ruth Money believes it would be better for survivors - in part because judges must give reasoning for their verdict.
The idea's received some pushback, with one legal expert arguing jury trials are a foundation of the justice system.&nbsp;
Money says jurors enter a court with bias, and mightn't understand nuances of sexual assault.&nbsp;
"I've had survivors say to me - look, I was slammed around that courtroom like a tennis ball, I was rape-mythed, I was shamed, I was blamed."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Ruth Money: Chief Victims Advisor on whether juries need to be scrapped from sexual violence trials

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dbabdfe3-40db-4cbb-a405-b30e004e1df6/transcript