Sex attack victim who sued calls for 'inhumane' questioning to be scrapped

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A sex attack victim who was the first in Scotland to sue over her treatment in the witness box has blasted the justice system for failing to stop others going through the same ordeal.In the first case of its kind in Scotland, the woman launched a legal action against Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC, Scotland’s top law officer, claiming the treatment she was subjected to in a courtroom breached her human rights.Shannon – who has asked only to be identified by her first name – described her court ordeal as the worst experience of her life after she was subjected to “inhumane” questioning and accused of drug dealing, affecting her mental health.The 28-year-old’s case was settled out of court in 2021 without admission of liability and she was awarded £35,000 in damages.But earlier this month, the Faculty of Advocates upheld a complaint from Ellie Wilson, saying her rapist’s defence lawyer repeatedly “crossed the line” of what was acceptable.Ellie, 26, said Lorenzo Alonzi left her shaking and almost doubting her own name during a trial before her rapist, Daniel McFarlane, was found guilty.Shannon is now calling for more protection for victims in court.She said: “It’s unbelievable this is still going on and that victims are still being forced to endure this treatment in court.

I was subjected to this treatment in court in 2019 and five years later we are still only talking about better protection for victims in court.“Defence lawyers have a job to do but victims should not have to defend themselves when they are not the one on trial for a crime.”It comes as the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is currently going through parliament, aims to improve the experience of victims and witnesses in the