Justin Fairfax
Alleged Sufferer’s Lawyer Slams Ex VA Lt. Gov.
After Homicide-Suicide
Printed
The violent finish of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax‘s life is reigniting scrutiny over the sexual assault allegations that rocked his profession … with certainly one of his accuser’s attorneys talking out after the obvious murder-suicide.
Nancy Erika Smith, who represented Meredith Watson — the lady who got here ahead in 2019 accusing Fairfax of raping her once they have been each college students at Duke College round 2000 — stated her ideas are with the couple’s kids, who have been reportedly house through the incident.
“First, this is horrific for their children who were home at the time of this event,” Smith stated in an announcement to the NY Submit, earlier than turning sharply crucial.
“There were decades of signs of his anger and mistreatment of women and he used the court system to intimidate his victims and news outlets. Society must be more responsive when women report these crimes,” stated Smith.
Authorities say Fairfax shot and killed his spouse, Cerina, inside their house early Thursday earlier than turning the gun on himself. Police say the couple had been going via a contentious divorce.
Watson’s allegation surfaced almost 20 years after the alleged assault … rising publicly in February 2019, simply days after one other lady accused Fairfax — a second that helped ignite a political firestorm in Virginia. Watson alleged the encounter was a premeditated rape — and her authorized crew stated she had advised others about it on the time, although she by no means filed a police report.
No felony prices have been ever introduced towards Fairfax, who persistently denied the allegation and stated the encounter was consensual. He aggressively pushed again … assembling a high-powered authorized crew and threatening defamation motion towards media shops that reported on the claims … even going so far as suing New York Public Radio for defamation per se in 2022. A movement to dismiss was profitable … and he subsequently misplaced an enchantment.
Broadcastify.com
The scandal derailed Fairfax’s political trajectory and triggered requires his resignation … although he in the end remained in workplace via the tip of his time period.
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