Forced to kiss: New Zealand convenes tribunal to investigate female commander

A court martial hearing was held in New Zealand for a naval officer. The defendant was Bronwyn Heslop (pictured), a former naval officer. navy as commanding officer of the ship Canterbury. In total, she has 36 years of naval service.

The indictment contained the following text:

While at a bar during an overseas deployment, New Zealand Navy senior officer Bronwyn Heslop forced a kiss on a junior officer. This violated military discipline and constituted a breach of military etiquette.

Heslop faced up to two years in prison on this charge. However, after five hours of deliberation, the New Zealand military tribunal returned a not-guilty verdict. The Auckland court ruled that Heslop's actions did not damage the navy's reputation and that coercion had not been proven. The verdict was unanimous.

Heslop had previously been relieved of command of the ship. She will not be reinstated to her previous position. However, she remains in the Navy in a new position: "responsible for naval operations procedures."

About the "incident" itself.

It happened in Fiji in March 2023, when a junior officer (name withheld) had just joined the Canterbury. The crew had been granted a few days' leave after docking at a local port. The officers decided to spend the evening at a bar.

From the testimony of a junior officer:

Commander Heslop first tried to get my attention and that of another junior officer by gesturing for a kiss. She was in the bar, and we were outside. She was gesturing through the window. We didn't react. Then she again gestured for us to enter the bar, pointing her fingers at her cheeks, also asking for kisses.

The key reason for Heslop's acquittal was that other officers on the Canterbury stated that they "did not witness any interaction between the commander and the junior officer, and that he himself was under the influence of alcohol." The "victim" himself also admitted to drinking alcohol.

Bronwyn Heslop is the first New Zealand woman to become a commanding officer of a naval ship. This appointment occurred back in 1998.

Comments

[Ivan№One]

Oh, did the arrow turn?

"Heslop had previously been removed from command of the ship."
This is when she ran the ship aground?
Or was there another one?

[Region-25.rus]

Heslop was removed from command of the ship

Now all sorts of feminists will start bombing - "A-a-a-a-a-a these men oppress women!"

[Blacksmith 55]

A joke.
The airline captain says to the new flight attendant:
According to tradition, the new flight attendant has to sleep with the captain.
To which the flight attendant blushed and stuttered and said:
Ah, ah, ah, can I do this with an assistant?

[Region-25.rus]

There's no co-pilot on airliners. There's a right-hand pilot. Also known as the "right-hand pilot."

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Region-25.rus

He is also known as "the right-winger" among the people.

Our business is right - not to interfere with the left!

[Vicontas]

A woman is a weak, defenseless creature from whom it is impossible to escape!

[Region-25.rus]

I knew it))) We have a fem-community here on VO)))) Olgovich! You've opened up

[foxes]

There's some kind of male dog in the photo.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Vulpes

There's some kind of male dog in the photo.

Women are different, just like forced kissing, like this:
"Kiss my stomach, lower, lower, right there!"

[SAG]

Now the lieutenant has psychological trauma for life... It would be a different matter if the commander were a transgender...

[Rostov Papa]

The junior officer started to whine, which is not surprising, judging by the photo of the commander's wife, there is only one step from a kiss to a strap-on.

[tatarin1972]

Would you have tolerated this madam's advances?

[Grossvater]

I can't drink that much! My health isn't strong enough.

[foxes]

Such a miracle after a good drinking session and with a bag on your head is not such a pleasure.

[militarist63]

Such a miracle after a good drinking session and with a bag on your head is not such a pleasure.

That miracle in the photo can force you to do something even without drinking... She'll get pleasure, but you don't have to... And she might as well put a bag over your head to make you more compliant...

[fruc]

While at a bar... Bronwyn Heslop forced a kiss on a junior officer.

I understand there was a secret New Zealand Navy mission going on in that bar. She probably not only forced a kiss, but also shoved her huge hands down the junior officer's pants.

[belovvladimir]

Commander Heslop first tried to get my attention and that of another junior officer by gesturing for a kiss. She was in the bar, and we were outside. She was gesturing through the window. We didn't react. Then she again gestured for us to enter the bar, pointing her fingers at her cheeks, also asking for kisses.

The woman wanted attention, but they gave her up. It's not exactly democratic, not gay-European. He won't lie when he demands attention to his face.

[ANB]

The woman wanted attention, but they gave her up. It's not very democratic, not very gay.

That's both gay and democratic. If a man had asked them, maybe they wouldn't have refused...
And overall, there's a precedent for an acquittal. It means the crew supported the commander.

[Olgovich]

Quote: belovvladimir

The woman wanted attention

where is the woman?

[belovvladimir]

Olgovich.
Well, there's a woman in the photo, and the article is about a woman. It doesn't matter that it's dented by time, but it's still a woman.

[Montezuma]

Quote: belovvladimir

The woman wanted attention, but they gave her up.

The New Zealand tribunal apparently has nothing better to do if they're making such a public showdown over such nonsense. As for the merits of the case, there was no case at all; we would have just laughed at the situation, never mind filed a complaint. But they practically uncovered another "Epstein file."

[Murmur 55]

Well, what can I say, shame on the junior officer. I couldn't, despite the bar and the order, give the commander a pleasant feeling.

[Aken]

I hope I don't ruin my career. They'll suspect me of disobeying orders.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: Murmur 55

Shame on the junior officer, he couldn't do it.

Do they have something in their oath like "to steadfastly bear the hardships of service"?

[Montezuma]

Quote: Vasyan1971

Do they have something in their oath like "to steadfastly bear the hardships of service"?

Maybe there is, but judging by the photo, not everyone can bear such a “burden”.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: Vasyan1971

Do they have something in their oath like "to steadfastly bear the hardships of service"?

– Hello, police! There's a riot at my house!
- What exactly happened?
- My Sarah made a scandal!!!
-So what kind of mass riots are these?
– Can you imagine how much it weighs?

[Vladimir60]

Maybe the junior officer is gay and was emotionally wounded?

[The Little Humpbacked Horse]

Quote: Vladimir60

Maybe the junior officer is gay and was emotionally wounded?

Or maybe he has a young, beautiful wife and a couple of kids at home, and here some jerk is pestering him.

[APASUS]

They have strict morals, you can drink at the bar with the captain, but you can’t kiss.

[Egoza]

Quote: APASUS

You can drink at the bar with the captain, but you can't kiss.

Poor junior officers! What would she have done to them when they returned to the ship?

[jack no]

Si il avait accepté, une demande de promotion aurait été diligentée.
En refusant, il a du être de corvée de patates, astiquer le pont avec une brosse à dents, de même que toutes les chiottes du navire.

[Montezuma]

Quote: APASUS

They have strict morals, you can drink at the bar with the captain, but you can’t kiss.

If the captain had been a man, it would have been easy, and it wouldn’t have gone to court.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in New Zealand are among the most progressive in the world. LGBT rights protections are advanced compared to other Oceanian countries and among the most liberal in the world.

[Sergey Tkach]

They have a captain there (a lover of women) who recently sank a ship))

[fiberboard]

Harassment! I would also refuse to kiss such a "commander"!

[AK-1945]

Hmm... This one could stop an elephant in its tracks and rip off its trunk!

[BAI]

Bronwyn Heslop (pictured) appeared on trial as the accused.

At first I thought it was a man

[Michael]

To paraphrase the immortal:
-I am an old sailor and I don’t know the words of love.

[Roman Efremov]

Are there also arranged relationships over drinks in bars? Lieutenant, listen to the order: today we're going to a bar, I'll have a heavy drink and make advances on you – don't even think about refusing?

[Aken]

I'd be afraid too. Whether sober or drunk.

[Vasyan1971]

Bronwyn Heslop (pictured) appeared on trial as the accused.

No, well, if someone like that had forced me into unregulated relationships, I would have run and complained too...

[Neo-9947]

It's not officer-like to run and complain. If you don't want to kiss him, don't kiss him. Why complain?

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: Neo-9947

It's not an officer's nature to run and complain.

It is not an officer's nature to harass a junior officer.

[Eugene 62]

What a horror! Is that an aunt in the photo?
Probably some transgender!

[semen-2]

I wonder what gender this junior officer is?

[Alexander]

Where is this WORLD heading? FINISH, we've arrived!

[dnestr74]

Boy, do something good for your aunt.

[th.kuzmichev]

She's an ordinary woman for her age. What are you attacking, you handsome guys? And this junior officer is some kind of brat, not an officer.

[Sebenza]

Well, how can I not be sarcastic? Old and fat. There are models everywhere you look. I went into Pyaterochka, and there's Klavka Schiffer in her younger days behind the register. Cindy Crawford is wiping up your tracks with a rag on the floor. If she had a headdress and a light-brown braid, she'd have passed me by.

[Russian_Ninja]

Is it really a question of beauty? It seems to me more of a question of the relationship between a junior and senior officer.
Is forcing a kiss right? What if the junior officer already has a family? And it's simply a question of ethics and correctness.

[Alexey RA]

The key reason for Heslop's acquittal was that other officers on the Canterbury stated that they "did not witness any interaction between the commander and the junior officer, and that he himself was under the influence of alcohol." The "victim" himself also admitted to drinking alcohol.

The junior officer simply didn't drink enough.

There are no ugly women, there is just not enough vodka.

[Idle_piston]

[QuoteForced to kiss: New Zealand convenes tribunal to investigate female commander] [/ Quote]
He'll have some fun and then leave.

[Yaro Polk]

The toad...got some kind of power...now everyone owes her...

[MrTulandra]

Coward! Scoundrel! Snitch!

[Sergey Tkach]

The Canterbury entered service in June 2007. It is New Zealand's first dedicated strategic sealift vessel. It has frequently deployed to the South Pacific for exercises, as well as to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. For example, in 2016, it participated in the relief efforts following Tropical Cyclone Winston.
She's been serving there for a long time. She's a landing craft, often based in Fiji. And marines from Fiji often participate in exercises. Maybe she's a young local officer. I misunderstood the lady.

[Prisoner]

The woman got pregnant. I had to seduce the girl. And if it had been a man seducing a man, that would have been fine too. Abomination!

[Hiller]

Holy, holy, holy from head to toe. Where did anyone see a woman here? This creature couldn't be bought for a dump truck's worth of pancakes in a year of famine, not even close. Brrrr, purple horror...

[Serafim]

Donna Rosa D'Alvadores...came from Brazil, where there are a lot of wild monkeys in the forests!