On what would have been the first day for jury selection, a Buffalo man pleaded guilty to knife-point rape and burglary.
According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office, Cornell Long, 29, broke into the victim's apartment through her living room window a year ago and threatened to "slit her throat" after taking a knife from her kitchen counter.
The DA's Office says Long raped the victim for several hours, and then fractured her nose and caused multiple other injuries. Then she ran to the store where she worked and her manager called 911.
"This case exemplifies precisely why there aren't 'victims' of sexual assault; there are survivors," said D.A. Flaherty. "The survivor in this case demonstrated incredible courage and poise, withstanding a brutal and horrific attack in her own apartment, and then having the wherewithal to flee to safety. By finding the courage not only to survive the attack, but to come forward and hold the rapist accountable, she has taken the power back."
Flaherty also commended the patrol officers in this case who quickly arrested Long and preserved all evidence which was crucial to securing a conviction.
 |
Live video, the latest news and no surveys - download the WKBW app |
 |
News, forecast and Bills newsletters delivered to your e-mail inbox |
