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Girls Like You
True Crime Book.
388 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 28, 2017
If you are perverse enough to, like me, enjoy non-fiction books that make your blood boil (eg/ Helen Garner's Joe Cinque's Consolation) then grab a copy of this. Initially an examination of truly horrific crimes against young women it eventually becomes an examination of the truly horrific legal process those victims then have to endure to bring their abusers to justice. Only a small percentage of rapes are ever reported. Only a small percentage of reported rapes are prosecuted. Only a small percentage of prosecuted rapes end in a conviction. Do the math. One of the very bravest people I have ever read about, Tegan Warner, did do the math & still found the courage to face a seemingly endless judicial process that included her being grilled for days at a time by defence barristers attempting to validate their clients' lies. She was also, if I've got this right, the first young rape victim in New South Wales (Australia) to brush aside the anonymity bestowed upon them by law & declare to the media who she was & why she was taking a stand. This, rather than playing a Grand Final with a broken jaw, is true heroism.
May 26, 2012
I would actually award this book 4.5 stars. Girls Like You by Paul Sheehan is a meticulously researched book about a series of horrific sexual assaults which were chillingly planned & perpetrated by six West-Sydney brothers.
Taking advantage of the rising tide of anti-Lebanese feeling in Sydney, Australia at the time of the escalation of their violence against women (including their own sister) these six brothers apparently felt that if they pretended to be Lebanese they could continue to organise and get away with the gang rapes of young western teenagers.
Had one of these young women not made an emergency call to the police, the brothers' other crimes may well have gone undiscovered & without punishment.
The author tells the story with a minimum of sensationalism and sentimentality, & it is backed up with forensic & historical detail such as you would expect of an investigative journalist.
Although I was already well aware of the crimes outlined in this book - it was still an engrossing read.
Taking advantage of the rising tide of anti-Lebanese feeling in Sydney, Australia at the time of the escalation of their violence against women (including their own sister) these six brothers apparently felt that if they pretended to be Lebanese they could continue to organise and get away with the gang rapes of young western teenagers.
Had one of these young women not made an emergency call to the police, the brothers' other crimes may well have gone undiscovered & without punishment.
The author tells the story with a minimum of sensationalism and sentimentality, & it is backed up with forensic & historical detail such as you would expect of an investigative journalist.
Although I was already well aware of the crimes outlined in this book - it was still an engrossing read.
September 10, 2016
If women in Western countries don't want to be savagely raped, then why don't they just stay home, veiled, away from the presence of men?
This was the reasoning of the 'K' brothers, Muslim male migrants to Sydney whose defence Counsel proffered this 'cultural timebomb' defense to explain and excuse their savage gangrapes of numbers of women in Sydney.
The 'K' brothers argued that because they were Muslims who grew up in a Muslim society, they didn't know that a woman has a right to say 'no' if she 'provokes' men to harm her, such as by standing on a street without a male bodyguard at all times (mehram, a male relative, as is required by Muslim custom). When women don't do this, they invite an attack and have only themselves to blame.
This is the first theme of 'Girls Like You', another piece of the Sydney story were police have warned non-Muslim women not to walk in Muslim-populated suburbs because of the higher likelihood of being raped by Muslim youths who consider unveiled women 'whores' who are thereby luring men to rape them. The failure of multiculturalism where one culture condones rape and abuse of women for 'transcending bounds' of decency while living in a sexually-liberated feminist society is one familiar narrative through the whole Western world today. Most reported rapes in Norway and Sweden are committed by non-Europeans, and it is little surprise which part of the world the rapists overwhelmingly come from.
The rapists claimed all their trials were 'Islamophobic' conspiracies, despite overwhelming evidence that these rapes occured, including a video of an unreported rape by a 14-year old member of the family filmed by his brother with his entire fist in an unconscious girl's vagina. His father, a Pakistani-trained doctor, joked that he'd make a good gynaecologist. The delusional vanity and denial of such people is a common theme among Muslim societies worldwide.
The 'K' brothers wasted over $3 million in taxpayer money by sabotaging a weak, byzantine legal system from start to finish. But worse were the harrowing experience they put their victims through, by harassing the rape victims in court both personally and through government-provided legal aid.
'You were flirtatious, weren't you?' - No. I'm conscious of my body image and would never flirt.
'You put your hand on his thigh and were flirting with him' - No. I felt very uncomfortable and wanted to get away.
'You told him you wanted to do it 69-style, didn't you' - No. He was raping me.
and so on and so on.
This second theme of the story is of the failure of the legal system to protect victims through the misguided altruism of pardoning criminals. The legal establishment lives in a parochial world divorced from society with a culture of its own that breeds this injustice and loathes whoever has the gall to criticise it. The legal establishment's disdain extends right to society's elected representatives. When society was revolted that a nortorious rapist Bilal Skaf and co., who gang raped 'Aussie pigs' for hours on many occassions, had a prison sentence drastically reduced because of a minor technically by two jurors visiting the location where it took place, law academics viewed it as a great victory for justice.
The injustice of a lenient legal system is also a common theme throughout the Western world. Law books are unfortunately notoriously expensive, but if you visit your State Library you will find 'Australian Current Law' reports. The yearly digest has a table of examplary punishments for crimes committed, to be used a reference for judges and lawyers. The punishments include:
- Zero jail time for a man who knocked two teeth out of a dancer in an unprovoked attack in a Darling Harbour club.
- 3 years detention for a youth who permanently brain damages a groundman for not handing him a cigarette.
- 9 years jail for murdering someone in a pre-meditated attack in the outback.
When reading a sentence, never pay attention to the 'maximum' sentence time, as this is rarely enforced. Look to the time the person is eligible for parole. A number of the 'K' rapists are already back on Australia's streets, identities fully hidden and protected by the law.
This was the reasoning of the 'K' brothers, Muslim male migrants to Sydney whose defence Counsel proffered this 'cultural timebomb' defense to explain and excuse their savage gangrapes of numbers of women in Sydney.
The 'K' brothers argued that because they were Muslims who grew up in a Muslim society, they didn't know that a woman has a right to say 'no' if she 'provokes' men to harm her, such as by standing on a street without a male bodyguard at all times (mehram, a male relative, as is required by Muslim custom). When women don't do this, they invite an attack and have only themselves to blame.
This is the first theme of 'Girls Like You', another piece of the Sydney story were police have warned non-Muslim women not to walk in Muslim-populated suburbs because of the higher likelihood of being raped by Muslim youths who consider unveiled women 'whores' who are thereby luring men to rape them. The failure of multiculturalism where one culture condones rape and abuse of women for 'transcending bounds' of decency while living in a sexually-liberated feminist society is one familiar narrative through the whole Western world today. Most reported rapes in Norway and Sweden are committed by non-Europeans, and it is little surprise which part of the world the rapists overwhelmingly come from.
The rapists claimed all their trials were 'Islamophobic' conspiracies, despite overwhelming evidence that these rapes occured, including a video of an unreported rape by a 14-year old member of the family filmed by his brother with his entire fist in an unconscious girl's vagina. His father, a Pakistani-trained doctor, joked that he'd make a good gynaecologist. The delusional vanity and denial of such people is a common theme among Muslim societies worldwide.
The 'K' brothers wasted over $3 million in taxpayer money by sabotaging a weak, byzantine legal system from start to finish. But worse were the harrowing experience they put their victims through, by harassing the rape victims in court both personally and through government-provided legal aid.
'You were flirtatious, weren't you?' - No. I'm conscious of my body image and would never flirt.
'You put your hand on his thigh and were flirting with him' - No. I felt very uncomfortable and wanted to get away.
'You told him you wanted to do it 69-style, didn't you' - No. He was raping me.
and so on and so on.
This second theme of the story is of the failure of the legal system to protect victims through the misguided altruism of pardoning criminals. The legal establishment lives in a parochial world divorced from society with a culture of its own that breeds this injustice and loathes whoever has the gall to criticise it. The legal establishment's disdain extends right to society's elected representatives. When society was revolted that a nortorious rapist Bilal Skaf and co., who gang raped 'Aussie pigs' for hours on many occassions, had a prison sentence drastically reduced because of a minor technically by two jurors visiting the location where it took place, law academics viewed it as a great victory for justice.
The injustice of a lenient legal system is also a common theme throughout the Western world. Law books are unfortunately notoriously expensive, but if you visit your State Library you will find 'Australian Current Law' reports. The yearly digest has a table of examplary punishments for crimes committed, to be used a reference for judges and lawyers. The punishments include:
- Zero jail time for a man who knocked two teeth out of a dancer in an unprovoked attack in a Darling Harbour club.
- 3 years detention for a youth who permanently brain damages a groundman for not handing him a cigarette.
- 9 years jail for murdering someone in a pre-meditated attack in the outback.
When reading a sentence, never pay attention to the 'maximum' sentence time, as this is rarely enforced. Look to the time the person is eligible for parole. A number of the 'K' rapists are already back on Australia's streets, identities fully hidden and protected by the law.
December 19, 2008
A disturbing look into the judicial proceedings of the five ‘K’ brothers who raped a number of young female teenagers. This book is often angering in its account of the legal system and its handling of rape cases, however despite this; it is an exceptionally well written account of the events and is a great example to shed light into the management of such cases.
January 17, 2011
It really makes you so angry at the legal system!
January 27, 2025
A book you read for the story. Confronting, fascinating, inspiring, but above all infuriating. I have nothing more to say about the story that is not said every time rape cases and they way they are handled is discussed.
The book itself, I didn’t love the excess amount of court transcript but also understand it’s purpose and I’m not sure how it would be written otherwise. I also felt the ending was dragged out a bit. I like Sheehan’a style though.
The book itself, I didn’t love the excess amount of court transcript but also understand it’s purpose and I’m not sure how it would be written otherwise. I also felt the ending was dragged out a bit. I like Sheehan’a style though.
November 15, 2024
Very confronting book but so interesting. Really dives into the court room scene in rape cases and how traumatic the trials can be for victims. Both a devastating and empowering book!
December 30, 2011
Poignant and passionate.
I put this book down feeling rifled, both about the ways culture is misconstrued and women are objectified and the court system is tedious to the point of ridiculousness.
I feel like the book could have been shorter, but it put the point out and it put the point out good.
I put this book down feeling rifled, both about the ways culture is misconstrued and women are objectified and the court system is tedious to the point of ridiculousness.
I feel like the book could have been shorter, but it put the point out and it put the point out good.
March 30, 2010
excellent piece of writing/work. good example of narrative nonfiction.
the only bit that grated was the intrusion of the author's own views. No need for that. Every reader would feel the same. Just tell the story.
the only bit that grated was the intrusion of the author's own views. No need for that. Every reader would feel the same. Just tell the story.
September 25, 2007
Probably a 3.5er. Fairly scathing and entirely compelling criticism of the NSW justice system. Does become repetitive on occasions.
July 5, 2009
A grim look at the court cases (and the plural is intentional)relating to the Sydney rape trails.
June 1, 2012
Compelling. A must read !
Read
August 12, 2013This book is the reason why capital punishment shoud be reintroduced into our country for cases such as this
May 18, 2014
Well-written and thoroughly researched. A brilliant account of all that is wrong with our judicial system. Tegan Wagner, here's to you.
July 12, 2014
Disturbing and unfortunately true... A must read if you are interested in the background behind gang rapes and the escalated violence at Cronulla and Eastern suburbs beaches
March 2, 2015
Could not put this book down. Read it in about 4 days!
December 18, 2016
Subject matter was disturbing.
An interesting look at the NSW judicial system and the woeful lack of respect for victims
An interesting look at the NSW judicial system and the woeful lack of respect for victims
January 19, 2020
Tegan Wagner ist eine Heldin. Nur ein Bruchteil aller Sexualstraftaten in Australien werden bei der Polizei angezeigt. Von diesen Anzeigen werden nur ein Bruchteil tatsächlich vor einem Gericht verhandelt. Von diesen verhandelten Fällen werden nur ein Bruchteil der Täter zu Gefängnisstrafen verurteilt.
Die 14-jährige Tegan hat sich dieser Statistik entgegengestellt, und ihre Vergewaltiger, die K. Brüder, angezeigt. In einem Gerichtsverfahren, das 4 Jahre dauern sollte und über 3 Millionen Dollar Steuergelder verschlang, hat sie sich nicht kleinkriegen lassen und gegen ihre Peiniger ausgesagt.
Journalist Paul Sheehan rollt die Ereignisse aus dem Jahr 2002 akribisch auf und erzählt nach, was sich damals zugetragen hat. Die sechs K. Brüder haben sich an über einem Dutzend junger Frauen vergangen, weil sie der Meinung waren die Mädchen hätten es “nicht anders verdient”. Anhand der Gerichtsakten verfolgt Sheehan die nachfolgenden Verhandlungen, und zeigt auf, welche Missstände im australischen Rechtssystem herrschen, das Opfer von Gewalttaten kaum schützt und sie sogar irrwitzigen Befragungen durch die Täter aussetzt.
Tegan Wagner verzichtete auf ihr Recht auf Anonymität, damit der Fall in den Medien öffentlich gemacht werden konnte. Ich kann nur wiederholen: Tegan Wagner ist eine Heldin.
Die 14-jährige Tegan hat sich dieser Statistik entgegengestellt, und ihre Vergewaltiger, die K. Brüder, angezeigt. In einem Gerichtsverfahren, das 4 Jahre dauern sollte und über 3 Millionen Dollar Steuergelder verschlang, hat sie sich nicht kleinkriegen lassen und gegen ihre Peiniger ausgesagt.
Journalist Paul Sheehan rollt die Ereignisse aus dem Jahr 2002 akribisch auf und erzählt nach, was sich damals zugetragen hat. Die sechs K. Brüder haben sich an über einem Dutzend junger Frauen vergangen, weil sie der Meinung waren die Mädchen hätten es “nicht anders verdient”. Anhand der Gerichtsakten verfolgt Sheehan die nachfolgenden Verhandlungen, und zeigt auf, welche Missstände im australischen Rechtssystem herrschen, das Opfer von Gewalttaten kaum schützt und sie sogar irrwitzigen Befragungen durch die Täter aussetzt.
Tegan Wagner verzichtete auf ihr Recht auf Anonymität, damit der Fall in den Medien öffentlich gemacht werden konnte. Ich kann nur wiederholen: Tegan Wagner ist eine Heldin.
November 25, 2018
Facts of the court proceedings of rape crime committed from 2002 with court proceedings finalising in 2006. Good read but based on timing of read, I am now compelled to further research. The fact that court hearings can be so badly managed with perpetrators allowed to disrupt, corrupt, threaten and behave so poorly placed very little confidence in the pursuit for these types of cases to be dealt with more timely, to reduce further stress to victims.
September 7, 2022
A sad indictment of a legal system that disguises itself as a justice system. How utterly disgraceful to treat victims like houses with unlocked doors.
September 27, 2023
Astonishing story. Powerful and creates emotions within the reader. Highly recommend but don’t read if you have a weak stomach as some stories are very confronting .
September 25, 2021
This is a book which really puts the judicial system under the spotlight in regards to the crimes of six brothers of Muslim faith. If you lived through this time it was a time of high emotion as the Skaf gang rapes had just been adjudicated. It shows the anger and frustration of the victims and how the system was played by the perpetrators. Even the judges and members of the court system were shown to be frustrated by the tactics of the defense, but powerless to do anything about it. The victims were extremely brave to push through, despite the challenges to their integrity and their trust in the judiciary. Hopefully the system has changed since the book was published in 2006.
December 10, 2023
this is an amusing book to read. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't enjoy it because it was non-fiction, but it was so really interesting to read. the thing I found most interesting that only 1% cases of rape get convicted. it goes to show the Australian system doesn't protect those who are most in danger yet the "people" who cause this vile acts to happen. the only thing that annoyed me with this book is the author's voice in the book. it feels like trying on a new shirt at a shop and the tag is scratching your back while you are seeing if the shirt is any good on you. it wasn't needed at all, he wasn't involved in the case, his an outsider.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews