Child Bride Speaks Out: Warren Jeffs on Trial

This article discussed the trial of Warren Jeffs, the leader of a polygamist sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The trial pertains to a child bride, Jane Doe, whose marriage to her first cousin was arranged and officiated by Jeffs when the girl was only 14 years old. Jane Doe states that she told Jeffs she was unhappy in her marriage and that she could not see herself having a family with her husband. Jeffs is reported to have told her to repent and then give herself to her husband. She claims that although she agreed to have sexual relations with her husband, she asked him to stop during the act, which he did not. Jeffs is therefore being tried for rape as an accomplice. His defense maintains that Jeffs taught that a man should only engage in sexual activity with his wife “if she invites it” and while Jane may have been unhappy being married to her cousin, “being unhappy is different from being raped.”
This would undoubtedly be a difficult article for any reporter to write because the idea of a young child being forced into marriage and sex is such an appalling situation, even without the added background that Jeffs has of promoting polygamist teachings. I think overall the journalist did a good job of reporting on the case. Not only was the victim’s case thoroughly explained, there was a lot of background as well, such as Jane Doe’s childhood and Jeffs role in the sect. However, the article seemed to have little information concerning Jeff’s defense. It is not until the very end of the article that his contest to the charges is described. If I had to write this article I would add more information concerning the case that his defense is presenting. Also, a couple of quotes from Jeffs would help to balance the numerous quotes from Jane Doe. It would have been helpful to incorporate the defense into the rest of the article.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/14/jeffs.trial/index.html?eref=rss_topstories