Section III: Reporting/Coping With Sexual Assault, Lessons 16: Going To Court; Truth and Lies
Directions: Ask students to distinguish truth from lies in the following situations. In the case of lies or inaccuracies, have students specify answers which should have been given.
Situation 1
Bob was in the park alone late one Saturday afternoon. A man he didn't know came up to him. He said he would give Bob a dollar if he would play a special game with him. Bob agreed and the two went into the restroom together. The man touched Bob's penis. Then he asked Bob to touch his penis. He gave Bob the dollar and said, "Maybe I'll see you here again next week." Then he left. Bob told his dad about what happened and the police caught the man.
In court, the lawyer asked Bob what time he was in the park.
Bob said "Around lunch time."
The lawyer asked Bob if he came to the park alone. Bob said, "No. My father doesn't like me to come to the park alone."
Then the lawyer asked Bob if he knew the man who touched him. Bob said, "I never saw the man before that day."
The lawyer asked Bob why he went into the restroom with the stranger. Bob told him, "He said he would hurt me if I didn't do what he wanted."
The lawyer asked, "Did you try to run away?" Bob said "No."
Situation 2
Mary was at her workshop when a new supervisor cornered her in the storeroom. He unbuttoned her blouse and began touching her breasts. Mary said, "Don't touch me" and tried to run out of the room. The man grabbed her by the arm and squeezed it hard. He said angrily, "If you tell anyone about this, I'll get you thrown out of this workshop." Mary was afraid, but she told her mother about it anyway.
In court, the lawyer asked Mary if she knew the man who assaulted her. Mary only knew his first name, so she said "No."
He asked Mary if she tried to get away. She said "Yes, but he wouldn't let me go." The lawyer asked Mary if the man threatened her. She didn't know what that meant, so she said "No."
The lawyer asked what part of her body the man touched. Mary was embarrassed because everyone was looking at her. She pointed to her chest and said, "Here."