Gang rapes bring record sentence

Sydney

The leader of a group of 14 Lebanese-Australians who gang-raped seven girls in a brutal, three-week spree was sentenced this week to 55 years in prison. It is the longest non-murder sentence ever handed down in Australia. Most Australian newspapers reported that the rapes were racially motivated. The teenage victims were all white, and some of them were called “Aussie pig” or “Aussie slut” or told they would be raped “Leb-style.” Some were raped repeatedly by all 14 men. The gang leader, whose name has not been released, was 18 at the time of the crimes, two years ago. He showed no remorse, and cursed the judge during his trial. The case has fueled anti-immigrant sentiment in Australia.