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Search forDame Helen's views on rape juries cause fury
Monday, November 17, 2008, 08:21
Dame Helen, 63, who grew up in Leigh-on-Sea, told The Sunday Times she thought defence teams "would select as many women as they could for the jury because women go against women.
"Whether in a deep-seated animalistic way, going back billions of years, or from a sense of tribal jealousy or just antagonism, I don't know," Dame Helen continued.
"But other women on a rape case would say she was asking for it. The only reason I can think of is that they're sexually jealous."
Dame Helen's remarks have already been criticised by the Solicitor General Vera Baird, who branded them ignorant, absurd and dangerous.
"This is a vast generalisation based on nothing," said the Solicitor General.
She added that Dame Helen had made false assumptions about how juries are selected and warned that her words could deter rape victims from reporting their ordeals.
Dame Helen caused a furore earlier in the year with her remarks about date-rape.
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Causing controversy: Dame Helen Mirren
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