The lawyer representing an NYPD detective accused of raping a woman while she was in custody sent a bearded, bespectacled man to serve alleged victim Anna Chambers subpoena papers. That man promptly called her a “stupid bitch.” How do we know? It’s on video.
We also have an explanation as to why this unidentified man showed up from the “Sheriff’s office,” claiming, “I can do whatever I want.”
https://twitter.com/annaaachambers/status/1027327529789607936
Chambers, 19, shared the video on Wednesday. A stranger by all accounts, claiming to be from the Sheriff’s office, showed up at Chambers’ home — again, we remind you she’s accused police officers of raping her in a van — and asked, “What are you afraid of?”
“This isn’t Russia. I’m not the KGB,” he said. “There’s your subpoena right there.”
The man was also recording the encounter. Ultimately, he called Chambers a “stupid bitch.”
According to the New York Post, it was NYPD Det. Eddie Martins‘ lawyer Mark Bederow who sent this guy over to serve Chambers. He explained that this was done because Chambers’ lawyer Michael David did not want to take the papers to his client. The man was not, in fact, associated with the sheriff’s office, according to the New York Daily News.
“The video, it’s disgusting, what that guy says. When he used that word, he’s degrading her. He’s degrading a rape victim,” David said.
Bederow also agreed it was inappropriate.
“The task that was given was to serve the subpoena,” he said. “We don’t condone any of the other stuff that happened.”
Chambers has accused NYPD detectives Martins and Richard Hall of raping her in a van after she was taken into custody on suspicion of marijuana possession.
While Chambers said she was raped, the officers claimed it was consensual. If you think that is a ridiculous defense, you haven’t been paying close enough attention. Police in a number of states are allowed to have sex with people they detain and claim it was consensual.
Law&Crime previously referenced the “it was consensual” defense in the context of seemingly unrelated law change in Kansas. It was very related. Kansas agreed that police officers should not be able to have sex with people they have in custody and amended their laws accordingly.
The Chambers case, regardless of outcome, is changing New York law in this area.
[Image via Twitter screengrab]
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