After a girl from the United States killed her suspected rapist, the 17-year-old had to pay the man’s family $150,000. In addition, Pieper L. was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence of five years and community service. A judgment that is met with incomprehension. A fundraiser for the young woman raised nearly $390,000. This should not only finance the fine, but also the professional training of the convicted person.
According to a former teacher and local media, the girl from Iowa ran away from home in 2020 at the age of 15. Her parents were violent towards her.
Zachary Brooks then took Pieper in and forced him into prostitution. As the young woman said, a 28-year-old Brooks had paid multiple times to rape her. The 37-year-old forced her to do it, threatening her with a knife. Finally Pieper stabbed him while he was sleeping, his body had more than 30 stitches.
Pieper was initially charged with murder and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. If convicted, she would have been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Relatives of Murder Victims Need Compensation in Iowa
The police and the prosecution did not deny that the girl was a victim of sexual exploitation. The judge in charge said he wanted to give the young woman a “second chance” with the suspended sentence. He had to impose the fine in view of the applicable legal situation. A law in Iowa states that family members of murder victims must be compensated.
Video: Beeper in court (in English)
The 17-year-old’s former math teacher described the law as “morally unjustifiable” and started a fundraiser for the young woman. “A child who has been raped should under no circumstances owe money to the rapist’s family.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
