{"id":12602,"date":"2016-09-29T05:26:43","date_gmt":"2016-09-29T05:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=12602"},"modified":"2016-09-29T05:29:30","modified_gmt":"2016-09-29T05:29:30","slug":"california-revokes-states-10-year-statute-of-limitations-on-rape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/california-revokes-states-10-year-statute-of-limitations-on-rape.html","title":{"rendered":"California revokes state\u2019s 10-year statute of limitations on rape"},"content":{"rendered":"

California revokes state\u2019s 10-year statute of limitations on rape, sex assault charges after pleas from Bill Cosby\u2019s accusers<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

California revokes state\u2019s 10-year statute of limitations on rape, sex assault charges after pleas from Bill Cosby\u2019s accusers<\/strong> : California’s governor signed a landmark bill Wednesday abolishing the state’s 10-year statute of limitations on rape and sexual assault charges \u2014 thanks in large part to the voices of Bill Cosby’s accusers.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It’s a tremendous day. I’m just so happy,” accuser Beth Ferrier told the Daily News after the news broke.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We were using social media and calling and emailing to make sure he signed,” Ferrier said, referring to a group of other accusers including Janice Baker Kenney.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’m just so proud of these strong women. You put us together, and we can get a few things done. We switched from the role of being victims to being activists,” the former model who worked on a similar campaign in her home state of Colorado said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ferrier, 57, was instrumental in getting Colorado lawmakers last June to double the amount of time sexual assault victims have to seek charges from 10 to 20 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I thought I was excited about Colorado, but we didn’t get it abolished. It was great, but this is so much better,” she said Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ferrier stepped forward in 2005 with allegations Cosby drugged and assaulted her in the mid-80s.<\/span>
\n\"Beth
\nShe was one of the original Jane Doe witnesses who agreed to testify for Andrea Constand in her 2005 sexual assault lawsuit against Cosby.<\/span><\/p>\n

The suit settled, but Cosby is now facing criminal prosecution and a trial scheduled for June over allegations he doped and groped Constand in his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cosby, 79, has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case. He also is battling several civil lawsuits brought by other accusers.<\/span><\/p>\n

In California, the law revoking the statute of limitations on new cases of rape and sexual assault will go into effect next year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Called SB813, the new law also will end the time limit on older cases in which the statute of limitations has not yet expired.<\/span><\/p>\n

It will have no effect on cases that have already timed out \u2014 including those from several Cosby accusers dating back 10 to 50 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cosby
\nStill, several of the accusers and their lawyer, Gloria Allred, testified before the California Legislature in support of the bill.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The passage of this new law means that the courthouse doors will no longer be slammed shut in the face of rape victims,” Allred said in a statement Wednesday. “It puts sexual predators on notice that the passage of time may no longer protect them from serious criminal consequences for their acts of sexual violence.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Allred thanked Sen. Connie Leyva for carrying the bill through a unanimous vote in the legislature prior to Brown’s signature.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Although for constitutional reasons it cannot be retroactive, it is an important victory,” she said. “We hope that this will send a message to other states to follow California’s lead and provide much needed justice for victims.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Seventeen other states already have no statute of limitations on rape, according to the California Women’s Law Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/strong> : http:\/\/www.nydailynews.com\/news\/politics\/california-nixes-10-year-statute-limitations-sex-crimes-article-1.2810869<\/span><\/p>\n

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