Two Christchurch women sexually abused as young girls have won a battle to have their own name suppression lifted.
They did it so they could expose their abuser and hoped it would be a test case, but it is a hollow victory because his identity is still protected.
Twenty years after the man who sexually abused Karen Beaumont and Anne-Marie Forsyth was convicted, they are still fighting for justice.
Their bid for all name suppression to be lifted was heard a fortnight ago in the Christchurch District Court.
Today the judge removed the sisters' name suppression, but not his.
"That's gutting, absolutely gutting," says Ms Beaumont.
By law their attacker still gets name suppression by virtue of the fact that identifying him might identify them, even though as of 5pm today they were legally allowed to go public.
"They are hoping to be a test case, to make it easier for others, but what it seems to be proving is just how difficult it is and will continue to be unless there's some changes to the law," says lawyer Nikki Pender.
They will now seek judicial review of his suppression order, meaning more court hearings, more stress and more money.
3 News
source: newshub archive
