EDITOR – This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting the Riley family, including the beautiful and strong Nicole, who a year ago was the victim of a violent and shockingly aggressive attack.
As many of you know, this attack has left her 95 per cent blind in her right eye. I had the opportunity of watching the CCTV footage from that night and I cannot begin to express the shock and horror I felt as I watched it. The unnecessary violence, the blatant aggression, the total loss of self control all coming from someone known to Nicole not a stranger, but rather a friend.
Much can be said about that night, assumptions and conjecture batted back and forth. Yes, there was alcohol; yes, things happened both before and after; yes, people have heard this, said that, and concluded for themselves. But there on the screen before me, was the cold hard truth. Yet somehow, an entire year has gone by, with the Rileys being let down horribly by the justice system. Unexplained obstacles, rudeness, lack of procedure, and stubborn inefficiency – basically a continuous uphill battle to get justice for Nicole. When in fact as was said by a lawyer who viewed the footage this should be an open and shut case.
READ ALSO: Family vows to seek justice after assault
We can all speculate as to why the Riley’s are being given the run around, why their efforts are being blocked. But one things for sure, the day will come when the perpetrator of that crime will be charged and prosecuted, because you can’t escape the fact that right is right, and wrong is wrong, and the actions of that person that night were horrendously wrong and must be dealt with.
My appeal to you is if you were there that night, if you saw part or all of what happened; if you have knowledge that you know has been hidden; if you have read messages or overheard conversations in other words, if you know the truth, now is the time to step forward. Now is the time to do the right thing and now is the time to stop playing the ostrich game. I’ve seen the footage and I know that at least eight people saw clearly what happened.
But people are keeping quiet and saying they don’t want to get involved because people are scared. But what if you were Nicole or what if that was your child who lost her eyesight. Wouldn’t you want and need the support, the courage and the truth? Wouldn’t you be praying that people would stand up, step forward, and be prepared to be counted? Nicole and her family need the support of anyone who feels strongly about justice and about actions having consequences. I recognised many people in that video, people I know to be fair, good and right. Nicole needs each one of you. Not everything in life is fun, but every single day we have the choice to do what’s right.
Sally – Anne Beugger Meyer
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