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Wife Faces Felony for Not Testifying Against Husband in Sex Assault Trial
Source: ABA Law Journal
June 26, 2009
Excerpt: "A woman who is reported to have hidden from authorities rather than testify against her husband at a sexual assault trial last year has been charged with failing to appear in court. Virginia Juanita Briard, a 63-year-old grandmother from Frazee, Minn., was scheduled to appear at the December trial of her husband, Robert Briard. Instead, she disappeared for the duration of his trial, and her husband was acquitted, the Detroit Lakes Tribune (reg. req.) reports." Short article attached ... what do you think?
DemonicButterfly
4 months ago
320 comments
Two sides to every coin of course, did she refuse out of fear? or out of feeling the need to protect? Never having been in this situation I dont know what I would do for sure. I would hope that i would have the cahones to do the right thing. The woman in question will have to spend the rest of her life living with the choice she made. That will only be made harder to live with when her husband assaults another person, and perhaps carries the assault further still to include murder.
Account Removed
4 months ago
I agree with you, Loveablkwn. Maybe she will have some quiet time to think about this, and pack her bags when she gets out of the pokie.
VanessaAWilliams
5 months ago
342 comments
Unfortunately, according to the law, if you're in contempt of court, you can be charged and sentenced. And in her case that is exactly what is happening. Now, as to why she told the police one thing and refused to testify to it, is another. She was so, blinded either by her love for him or scared to death of what he would do to her if she testified. She should have thought of being able to have a life without abuse by his going to jail. And a sexual assualt, who wants to be married to a man who refused to listen to your NO and respect that.
I think the hard part here is that the victim is going to jail instead of the perpetrator of the actual crime, but she made her choice clear. When will women learn and then act in their own best interests instead of the abuser's?
Vanessa
obianuju
5 months ago
6 comments
l cant testify against my husband if l love him except if not