This is according to Miranda Friedmann, WMACA Founding Director.
‘Judge Bam interrupted Hewitt’s defence, Terry Price, a few times today asking him to refrain from repeating questions to points already noted by the court’, said Friedmann.
“This worked in minimising the secondary abuse suffered by victims who are treated as though they are lying until their perpetrator is found guilty.
‘We are hoping that they court will bring in an expert on the psychological impacts of sex abuse on child victims’ emotional development into adulthood as this would assist in answering the questions that have been raised by this landmark case; why did the victims disclose the abuse at the hands of Hewitt after decades?
“Why can’t the victims remember details such as when did the incident happen, what time was it and today the defence continuously questioned Suellen on what make of car was she in when the abuse took place, what colour were the car seats?
‘In our experience, child victims remember what happened to them but not details such as time, dates, décor and or landmarks in the same way adults do and today Price cross examined Suellen as though she should be able to recall exact detail as evidence.
“She was a young adolescent at that time, a child!’
‘Terry Price seemed shocked that Sheehan claimed to be able to name around nine other victims she knew of and what shocks us at WMACA are Hewitts peers who must have known or at least have had a suspicion that Hewitt was behaving inappropriately to children he was coaching and yet they have remained silent!’
WMACA members will attend all court proceedings and invite their supporters and members of the public who wish to attend court to wear black, proceedings start at 10am at Court 8, Palm Ridge Court.