Trial held in Dominican Republic - Testimonial from Survivor

To the Dear Branchini Family,

My name is Kim Sweeney and I am a rape survivor writing to share a victory with you. Earlier this month your foundation offered me the opportunity and the responsibility to travel to the Dominican Republic to testify at a criminal appeal hearing for the man who was convicted of raping me in June 2000.

This final trip resulted in three judges confirming the April 2001 conviction and upholding the initial sentence of ten years in prison. The ruling not only protects other women from this criminal, but also demonstrates to other men that rape is a crime that will be prosecuted.

The victory required five arduous return trips to the Dominican Republic for my family and myself. First I returned to press charges, then two months later to appear at an habeas corpus, and several months later to testify at the trial. When I believed the case was closed, I was asked to testify again at the appeal (which was postponed after my testimony) in December of 2002.

I understood the defense team's tactics included inconveniencing my life and my finances, as they hoped I would not return to see justice served. They were hoping I would run out of money and faith. I was almost barren of both money and faith in January 2004 when I was asked again to testify at another appeal hearing in early February 2004. I believed I had already done all that was in my power to convict the man who impacted my life so negatively.

I was not sure if I could ask my family or even myself to suffer through one last travel to such an awful memory. I prayed for guidance that would help me decide if I should borrow money to pay for another set of plane tickets simply to be told the defense was successful in postponing the case...or if I should simply accept that I had already given my all to the cause.

Your foundation answered the call. I e-mailed a note to the website after learning about the foundation through Jane Sigmon at the U.S. State Department. Mrs. Branchini called me within 12 hours to notify me that she was sorry this happened to me, she wishes me all the best, and she was going to help me deal with this awful situation. The comfort and faith in her voice showed true compassion and kindness. I knew then that I needed to return for one more trip to help other women.

The Branchini family established the foundation to help women like me and if they could do something so generous and kind, I surely could testify one more time. The faith shown to me was the guidance I prayed for. Your foundation's financial support paid for travel expenses for my mother and myself for three days in the Dominican Republic.

Your foundation's emotional support helped me through the testimony which lead to the judges' ruling. Without your foundation's help, I believe I would not have traveled to testify, and the man would be free today as his legal team would have succeeded in wearing me down. I am grateful to have received your support.

Also, I would like to share another victory with you. After the verdict was read, two Dominican women approached me and thanked me for being strong and helping women in their country. My testimony was important to them as well. You have helped me help these women, as well as others, and words cannot express my feelings for this. I am proud to help other women, and I am prouder still to have become part of such a kind and purposeful organization as the It Happened To Alexa Foundation. Giving back to others may not erase what has happened to us, but it slowly eases the pain and allows hope to inspire others.

Thank you again for all you have done.

Best regards,
Kim Sweeney