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- <text id=92TT2520>
- <title>
- Nov. 09, 1992: In Texas, A Grim Question of Survival
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1992
- Nov. 09, 1992 Can GM Survive in Today's World?
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- THE WEEK, Page 26
- SOCIETY
- In Texas, A Grim Question of Survival
- </hdr><body>
- <p>An accused rapist insists an offered condom implied consent
- </p>
- <p> It seemed the classic Catch-22 of rape, with an age of AIDS
- twist: a woman who protects her life by cooperating with her
- assailant -- in this case by offering him a condom -- risks the
- charge that she invited the assault. In Austin, Texas, the first
- grand jury that heard the case against Joel Rene Valdez may have
- concluded just that, refusing to bring charges against Valdez,
- who wielded a knife during the attack. Valdez apparently told
- the police -- and the local media -- that because his alleged
- victim had the presence of mind to provide him with a
- prophylactic in mid-rape, she clearly must have consented to
- sex. It is generally assumed the first grand jury concurred with
- the argument.
- </p>
- <p> But the women of Austin would have none of it. As
- demonstrators converged on the courthouse, prosecutors convened
- a second grand jury. This time Valdez was indicted for
- aggravated sexual assault. If found guilty, he could spend the
- rest of his life behind bars.
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
-
-