Stanford Rapist Brock Turner Blames His Sexual Assault Of Unconscious Woman On "Party Culture"

Trigger warning: this article discusses rape and sexual assault.

A letter from convicted Stanford University rapist Brock Turner submitted to the judge before sentencing shows him blaming his actions on “party culture”.

The New York Times has the letter Turner read to Judge Aaron Persky before he was sentenced to six months in jail. (The ruling has been met with outrage online, where multiple petitions to recall the judge have garnered more than 750,000 signatures. Persky has also been threatened with violence.)

In the letter, Turner claims he is the “sole proprietor of what happened on the night that changed these people's lives forever,” adding, “I know I never raped anybody.”

This despite two eyewitness accounts from fellow Stanford University students who spotted Turner raping an unconscious woman behind a dumpster in January of 2015. (The woman’s name has not been revealed.)

“I want to demolish the assumption that drinking and partying are what make up a college lifestyle,” he continued.

“I made a mistake, I drank too much, and my decisions hurt someone.”

He went on to suggest that there was implied consent in his interaction with the victim.

"I idiotically rationalised that since we had been making out where each of us fell to the ground, that it would be a good idea to take things a step further since we were just in the heart of the moment at that location," he said.

“At this point in my life, I never want to have a drop of alcohol again. I never want to attend a social gathering that involves alcohol or any situation where people make decisions based on the substances they have consumed. I never want to experience being in a position where it will have a negative impact on my life or someone else’s ever again.”

Turner also noted the effect the case had had on his own life.

“I’ve lost two jobs solely based on the reporting of my case. I wish I never was good at swimming or had the opportunity to attend Stanford, so maybe the newspapers wouldn’t want to write stories about me.”

The victim, now 23, shared her own, lengthy statement from court with Buzzfeed; it’s a powerful account of the aftershocks of sexual assault, and a damning indictment of Turner’s lenient sentencing.

In it, she challenged his defence of blaming alcohol for his actions.

“Alcohol is not an excuse,” she said.

“Having too much to drink was an amateur mistake that I admit to, but it is not criminal.

“Regretting drinking is not the same as regretting sexual assault. We were both drunk; the difference is I did not take off your pants and underwear, touch you inappropriately and run away.”

Are you experiencing sexual assault or domestic and family violence? Seeking to support someone who is? Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

Photo: Santa Clara County Sherriff’s Office.