Rapper Classified urges followers to email judge in wake of 'sad, disturbing' N.L. rape case
Nova Scotian rapper says N.L. judge should be 'put on trial' for sentencing
A Canadian rapper is demanding a Newfoundland judge "explain himself," and is urging his social media following to speak up after the judge sentenced a St. John's man to five years in prison for the brutal rape of an 11-year-old girl.
Luke Boyd, who performs as Classified, posted Justice William Goodridge's email address on his Facebook page Thursday, one day after the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justice delivered the sentence to Christopher Ford Butt.
The artist wrote that Justice Goodridge "needs to be put on trial and explain himself." In a third post about the case, the rapper called the incident "sad, disturbing … and crazy."
"I hope people raise as much a fuss about this guy … as they do about the dog law … let's not let this just go under the bus," he posted.
Butt, 41, pleaded guilty in June to one count of sexual assault and one count of uttering threats.
Butt lured the 11-year-old into his home, showed her pornographic videos, threatened her and her family and sexually assaulted her. He caused injuries so severe, the girl was unable to walk or wash herself for days afterward.
The five-year sentence is the minimum punishment for the crime, agreed upon by both the Crown prosecutor and the defence lawyer.
Goodridge said the assaults "attract a high degree of public abhorrence," but noted it was uncertain if the girl would be able to testify at trial, meaning a conviction wasn't guaranteed.
Her parents also wished to avoid the stress of a trial.
Butt has been in custody since Aug. 1, 2014. Due to time served, he has one year and 38 weeks left in his sentence.
Neither Boyd nor Justice Goodridge immediately responded to requests for comment.