After the Los Angeles County District Attorney ruled Friday that Marilyn Manson will not be prosecuted over allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence, his ex-partner Evan Rachel Wood is speaking out in support of the survivors.
On Friday, Wood took to her private Instagram (via People) to speak on the ruling in favor of Manson, which followed a four-year investigation into the accusations posed against the Grammy-nominated artist.
“My lawyer and I were advised by the Deputy District Attorneys and the Sheriff deputies who investigated the case that there was compelling evidence to support our claims, but that the statute of limitations prevents many of those crimes from being prosecuted,” she wrote. “We always knew that the statute of limitations would be a barrier, which is why we created the Phoenix Act– so that other victims wouldn’t have to experience this outcome.”
Wood continued, “Unfortunately, the Phoenix Act cannot help in cases which occurred before it was passed, but I hope this shines a light on why it’s so important to advocate for better laws. Evidence of violent crimes should not have an expiration date. I am grateful for the work law enforcement has done, and I am endlessly proud of all the survivors who risked everything to protect others by speaking the truth.”
The Phoenix Act extends the time that victims of domestic violence can come forward and seek justice against their abusers. However, per Friday’s ruling, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in Manson’s case, the “allegations of domestic violence fall outside of the statute of limitations, and we cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Hochman added that he and his team “recognize and applaud the courage and resilience of the women who came forward to make reports and share their experiences, and we thank them for their cooperation and patience with the investigation.”