Pascal Mazurier acquittal must be challenged in High Court: Special Public Prosecutor

Bengaluru: Shocked at the judgement in the Pascal Mazurier’s case, in which he was acquitted of the charge of sexually abusing his minor daughter, Special Public Prosecutor and senior advocate B.T. Venkatesh told this newspaper that that he would recommend to the government to go in for appeal against the Sessions Court judgement.

“The judgement is erroneous and the government should go in appeal against it before the High Court for justice to the victim and the complainant,” he said.

Questioning the judgement, senior advocate Pramila Nesargi said that justice has not been delivered to the victim (a minor) and the complainant (Suja Jones – the estranged wife of Mazurier).

“Will a child lie about her abuse? Can a mother cook up such a grave allegation against her husband and the father of the child to stop him from leaving the country? Justice has not been delivered in this case to the victim and the complainant,” she said while adding that she was confident that they would get justice from the High Court.

Besides the legal fraternity, the voluntary organizations in Bengaluru, which work for empowerment of children and women have come out in support of Suja and her daughter.

“The judgement has trivialized a heinous offence; of a child being sexually abused by her father. No mother will use a child in this manner as has been inferred. The judgement should be challenged before the High Court,” said Dona Fernandes, a women’s rights activist and founder of Vimochana.

Kumar Jagirdar, founder of Children’s Right Initiative for Shared Parenting (Crisp), who had helped Mazurier with legal and moral support during the trial told this newspaper, “The prosecution has a right to go in appeal against the judgement, but justice should be delivered at the earliest in the best interest of all.”