Ramsay's sentence disappoints

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Many Aboriginal organizations, including the Assembly of First Nations, are crying foul after former British Columbia Judge David Ramsay was sentenced to seven years in prison (a term they think is far too short) for what they say are race-based crimes.

Ramsay was convicted on one count of sexual assault causing bodily harm, one count of breach of trust and three counts of buying sex from minors. His victims, four Native girls, were teenagers at the time of the incidents and one was just 12 years old. Three had been defendants in Ramsay's court, before and after his sexual encounters with them. Ramsay had access to their files, knew how old they were and the difficulties in their lives.

Ramsay paid the girls for sex. In one case, he smashed a 16-year-old girl's head into the dashboard when she insisted on his using a condom. When one girl threatened to expose his activities, he warned her no one would believe her if she reported him.

Ramsay could have received a maximum of 14 years on one of the charges, and five years on each of the other four counts. The Crown asked for a sentence of between three and five years. Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm tacked on two years to that recommendation.

"I'd like to know how they came up with seven years and why it's so inconsistent. The sentencing is so inconsistent," said Susanne Point, chair of the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence (NACAFV).

Special prosecutor Dennis Murray said sentences vary because each case is unique and has to be handled as such.

One factor that is often weighed is the remorse of the convicted.

Point said Ramsay apologized for his actions, in what she says was an attempt to ease his conscience.

"How can you say sorry to a 12-year-old girl who's got the rest of her life to go through with her nightmares and dreaming about what you did to her," said Point. "Sorry doesn't cut it."

Murray said he thinks people should view the Ramsay case as a "shining example" of justice served.

"The case went forward and the accused went to the penitentiary and that should never be forgotten," he said. "The reason it shouldn't be forgotten is that everybody focuses on their feeling that the sentence was not good enough and the process didn't work. Then other Aboriginal girls out there who have always thought that the system wasn't there for them and didn't hear their voice will think that's still true, when in fact this case is an example, a shining example, of the fact their voices were heard. And I don't think we should forget that."