Alleged victim's vulnerability challenged by defence

by Sasha Borissenko from The Nelson Mail:
A woman with Down syndrome who says her carer grabbed her head and pushed her face close to an element is not a vulnerable adult, a defence lawyer says.
The carer, Deborah Michelle Waugh, is on trial in the Nelson District Court.
She denies a charge of ill-treating a vulnerable adult.
Defence lawyer Brett Daniell-Smith yesterday argued that Waugh did not mistreat the 25-year-old complainant.
He told the court that although Waugh was a gruff woman, she had a kind and gentle heart.
The Crown alleges that Waugh, 60, ruled the house where the woman lived through fear, creating an unhealthy and unpleasant atmosphere.
Staff working under her raised concerns but a complaint file went missing.
Daniell-Smith and Crown prosecutor Jackson Webber gave their closing statements yesterday.
Waugh worked for Intellectual Disabilities Empowerment in Action (Idea) as a support worker and facilitator at a Collingwood St home for people with intellectual disabilities for six years.
The alleged events in question occurred between October 31 and December 25, 2012, but were only brought to light in April 2013.
The Crown alleges that any complaints were covered up by Waugh's manager and friend.
The alleged incidents only came to light after the manager and friend left the organisation.
In his closing address, Daniell-Smith said that in his view, the complainant did not fit the definition of "vulnerable adult".

Man Charged for Sexually Abusing Woman With Down Syndrome

from KOLR 10 News:
DADE COUNTY, Mo. – An Everton man is in jail after he sexually abused a 23-year-old woman with Down syndrome, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

According to a probable cause statement from the Dade County Circuit Court, James W. Morgan, 60, of Everton, was arrested on Jan. 17 and charged with first-degree sexual abuse.

On Jan. 17, the victim was being treated at a local hospital when authorities were alerted to the incident.

According to the statement, Morgan was found naked with the victim, who was also naked and attempting to hide under a bathrobe.

During a post-Miranda interview, Morgan admitted to engaging in sexual acts with the victim on two occasions, according tot the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Morgan is in the Dade County Jail under a $100,000 bond. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2014 at 10 a.m.

School principal drags boy with Down syndrome

ABC-7.com WZVN News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral

from ABC 7:

Neptune Beach, FL - A mother and father are looking for justice after they say their child was pulled from his classroom by his private school principal and badly hurt.

Meibol and Cesar Suarez adopted their grandson, who has Down syndrome, after his parents were no longer able to take care of him.

They enrolled him in a school for children with learning disabilities, where they believed he would be safely taken care of.

But according to Neptune Beach Police Department, about three weeks ago, the 11-year-old was harshly disciplined in class and criminal charges could follow.

"This is my child. I have to protect my child," said Meibol Suarez.

Twitter attack on Collingwood player Clinton Young's brother

by David Hurley from The Herald Sun:
COLLINGWOOD star Clinton Young has been the victim of a Twitter attack by a man who made shocking comments about his brother, who has Down syndrome.
Following the Pies victory over Carlton on Friday night, Young tweeted his thanks to supporters and referred to
his brother, who was in the circle singing the club song with the players after the win.
Young tweeted: "Great win by the boys tonight! Thanks for all the messages, Lachie loved the night too! Fair to say I needed the run, can't wait for next wk."
A Twitter user replied: "Good to see your brother fitting in but I guess he would already lots of spastics at the pies."
Catherine McAlpine, chief executive officer of Down Syndrome Australia, said: "It is really disappointing that some people still think it is acceptable that people with disabilities are fair game when it comes to ridicule and abuse like this."

Young, 27, and Collingwood Football Club did not wish to comment on the incident.

cigarette barbarity for child with Down syndrome

from The Telegraph India:
A two-year-old with Down syndrome is battling for life after being allegedly burned with cigarette butts by a woman faith healer who inflicted the torture in the name of curing him.

“I was shocked to see fresh scars of burning by cigarette butts on the child’s tummy. I counted 11 such scars on his body and there were several others that were caused several months back. This shows he has been going through this for quite some time,” said Dr Abdul Rasheed, the paediatrician treating the child.

The burning continued over months on the toddler, born to poor and illiterate parents from Kangan in central Kashmir, Rasheed said. Other doctors recalled having come across several similar cases of torture inflicted by peers, spiritual leaders often involved in occult practices.

In this case, too, the parents have not approached the cops so far. “No case has been registered as the family is unwilling to approach the police. In fact, they virtually worship her (the faith healer) and are not willing to name her,” Rasheed said.

The family has admitted taking the boy to the woman peer in Bonigam village, not far from their home in Murgund village in Kangan.

But Rasheed said the family was reluctant to reveal the ordeal to avoid landing the woman in trouble.