Woman denies defence lawyer’s suggestion she has ‘clear agenda’ for ex-world junior players’ sex assault trial
The Importance of Language: Referring to the Accused as ‘Boys’ or ‘Men’
WARNING: The following article contains explicit details.
During the trial, defence lawyer Julianna Greenspan, representing Cal Foote, is questioning the witness, E.M.
Foote stands accused of performing a lewd act while naked over E.M.’s face as she lay on the floor of a hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018.
Greenspan challenges E.M. on her choice of words, questioning why she refers to the accused as “men” instead of “boys” throughout her testimony, which began on May 2.
Throughout the cross-examinations, the defence lawyers have consistently referred to the accused as “boys,” while E.M. has consistently used the term “men.”
“You have deliberately avoided using the term ‘boys’ in this trial, haven’t you? You have made a conscious effort to say ‘man’ or ‘men’?” Greenspan probes.
“It’s not a deliberate choice,” E.M. responds. “They were 18 or 19 years old; they were adults.”
Greenspan highlights E.M.’s initial statement to the police, where she referred to the accused as boys. She presents the transcript of the police interview conducted on June 22, 2018, just two days after the alleged incidents took place.
