Friday July 21 7:40 AM ET
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.
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"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
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.
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."