A heinous crime. A most horrific crime. Ignobility. There are so many words that people could use in an attempt to describe this most despicable case of human violation-rape. At the hearing of the O?Reilly case last Friday, lawyers defending the accused were heard arguing for not so severe sentences for their clients. Of course this is what they are paid to do and far from me the thought of judging the morality of their jobs.

It?s just that being a woman and being seated in court and hearing the futile justifications given by the accused to make their crime sound more ?acceptable? gave me the creeps. If I felt that way, I couldn?t even bear to think what Sandra O?Reilly, seated a few rows behind me was feeling. That woman has guts; you have to give it to her.

I heard Rama Valayden appearing for Nicolas Potage say to the magistrates that no violence was used. I remember wondering then if the man was only doing his best to defend his client or if he believed what he was saying. No violence? I couldn?t think of any worse kind of violence. Of course, Mr Valayden couldn?t be expected to understand this.

I?m not too sure what brought about this particular column. Maybe the need to let go of some frustration. The frustration deriving from the realization that men will never understand women. I heard a few men hanging around the court say to each other giggling; ?Oh come on, she must have enjoyed some of it.?

I know. Unbelievable, huh? That?s unfortunately the way some people think. And not just men. I know a few women like that too, implacable in their condemnation of their peers.

The popular reaction to rape is usually that ?she must have asked for it.? So naturally does it come out of people?s mouths that we?d be forgiven for thinking such mentality must be inbred. Which reminds me of one of the rapists? statement; ?I was tempted, she was dressed indecently.?

The last hearing of the collective rape case was carried out in insulting casualness. Valayden couldn?t stop from laughing the whole way through; marveling at his own cleverness, thinking the whole thing was utterly funny. The usual solemnity of courtrooms had given way to an informality that bordered on disrespect and insult.

Another statement of yet another accused made me cringe. Apologizing to O?Reilly, Joson said to her ?madam, will all the respect that I have for you?.? I suppose those people have been briefed on what to say. It is after all, to all intents and purposes just another matter that has to be dealt with by the courts. Those words were uttered purely in an attempt to have their sentence reduced. Fair enough I suppose. Those are the rules of justice being blind and all. Looking at those people who have pleaded guilty to raping Sandra O?Reilly, I have no doubt that repentance had nothing to do with their mea culpa. I even suspect that deep down they don?t understand what all the fuss is all about.

Therein lies the tragedy. The bewilderment for that woman, Sandra O?Reilly grows when one realizes what she had to face to finally get where she is. On top of the disbelief we know she had to put up with. And yet now that justice has been done and has been seen to be done, I bet victory has a bittersweet taste to Sandra. If it?s any consolation, it does to a few of us too.