Judge opts out of rape cases after uproar

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 12

Judge opts out of rape cases after uproar

NZPA-Reuter Philadelphia A Philadelphia judge has asked not to be assigned rape cases because of an uproar over his saying that an alleged victim was “the ugliest girl I have ever seen” and his refusal to convict her alleged attacker of rape. Judge Bernard Avellino provoked anger when the Philadelphia “Inquirier” newspaper reported that in 1984 he had found Vincent Bove guilty of assault but not of rape, telling the defendant, “This was an unattractive girl and you are a good-

looking fellow. You did something to her which was stupid.” The paper said Judge Avellino, without telling the prosecutor, had reduced the sentence he had given Bove in open court. The original sentence was three to 24 months in prison, but the judge changed it to time Bove had already served — 30 days. When interviewed by the newspaper about his change of mind in the case, Judge Avellino said the evidence of rape had been inconclusive and

that the victim’s recall was faulty.

He said she was “the ugliest girl” he had ever seen and likened her to an animal so ugly that a boy would chew his hand off to escape her grasp. Two women’s groups had picketed the judge’s office causing him to postpone his cases set for that day. The next day he issued a formal apology. the court’s Chief Judge said that Judge Avellino had asked not to hear rape cases and the Chief Judge had agreed.