![\"Detail](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246167672-0929.jpg\")
\n\t\tComparisons are already being drawn to the 2016 Brock Turner case in the US (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tComparisons are already being drawn to the 2016 Brock Turner case in the US (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A medical student found guilty of raping a woman walked free from court in Belgium<\/a> \u2013 without punishment \u2013 because of his \u2018youth and talent\u2019.<\/p>\n The Leuven court justified its decision by citing the 24-year-old\u2019s future as a gynecologist, sparking accusations that the legal system protects rapists over victims.<\/p>\n \u2018It is undeniable that he crossed the line of what is acceptable but he is still young,\u2019 the judge said.<\/p>\n The court also said that if the man \u2013 who has not been named in Belgium media \u2013 is jailed, he would later find it hard to get a job as a gynecologist, which is his field of study.<\/p>\n The attack happened after a Halloween<\/a> party at a student bar in November 2023. <\/p>\n Suddenly, the victim lost consciousness of her surroundings. It is not clear whether or not she had been drugged.<\/p>\n Last month, her lawyer assured the court: \u2018She stumbled and was unable to stand up on her own two feet. <\/p>\n \u2018She needed support to prevent her from falling down.\u2019<\/p>\n On the pretence of helping her, the attacker took her back to his student accommodation, where he raped her.<\/p>\n The court acknowledged the victim was \u2018in no condition to consent\u2019 and deemed the crime \u2018serious and unacceptable.\u2019<\/p>\n But the judge granted the man a suspended sentence, citing his career potential and clean record.<\/p>\n Comparisons are already being drawn to similar cases in which attackersreceived lenient sentences due to their perceived potential. <\/p>\n The 2016 Brock Turner case in the US<\/a>, in which a Stanford swimmer was handed just six months for sexual assault, is now being referenced as one of the examples.<\/p>\n There are warnings that such rulings will send the message that somehow \u2018talent\u2019 can outweigh sexual abuse, leaving more and more victims without justice.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tThis Is Not Right\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t On November 25, 2024 Metro<\/strong> launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.<\/p>\n With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.<\/p>\n You can find more articles here<\/a><\/strong>, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/This-is-Not-Right-7-1-b167.jpg\")
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