Calls for judge to be stood down after teen avoids jail for rape
The teenager's 18-month suspended sentence has sparked outrage in the Canberra community.
A teenager accused of raping a young woman during a Canberra house party has avoided jail time, receiving an 18-month suspended sentence instead. ACT Supreme Court Justice Andrew Muller cited the teen's lack of sexual experience and limited understanding of Australian societal norms as factors in his decision. The 18-year-old, who moved to Canberra from Bhutan in 2025, pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse without consent in the ACT Children's Court.
The sentence has drawn widespread criticism, with a petition calling for Justice Muller's removal receiving 4,000 signatures. Another petition, sponsored by Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain, seeks a public inquiry into the ACT's sentencing framework for sexual violence, garnering 170 signatures. The victim, now 18, reported the assault, stating she froze and repeatedly begged the offender to stop, but he ignored her pleas.
The court heard the teen had a restraining order for punching a student at school and admitted to photographing another student using a toilet. ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Juliette Ford emphasized the importance of the criminal justice process reflecting the impact of harm caused to victims.
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