Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

An 18-year-old high school student raped a 14-year-old girl two months ago, she also attended the same school he did. Unable to cope with the emotional stress, sadly she killed herself. The court's reaction to the suicide was to drop the charges! :o
http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...akes-own-life-

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

First of all, they must not have had any evidence other than her verbal testimony.

Second of all, seeing as how he was not convicted, he is therefor presumed innocent.

The bias in this article is horrible.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Were it hinging solely on her testimony, the case would not have got to trial. "He says, she says" is no grounds on which to base a criminal prosecution, and there would have been police reports, medical evidence and other elements which could have been brought in instead. The only grounds I can think of which would be valid for dismissing the case would be the lack of ability to cross-examine the victim, but that would have been heavily curtailed given her age and in any event would not have been critical to the case. I am struggling to comprehend the logic behind this decision aside from expediency.

It should also be noted there is still the possibility of action being pursued in the civil courts, so speculation on his culpability or otherwise is best left until all avenues are exhausted. It is not fair on either party to do so in the meantime.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

I'm sorry but that's total crap. A lot of women don't report their rapes, but just because it hasn't been recognized by the law doesn't make them have been any less raped, or their rapist and less of a rapist. If you force someone to have sex then you are a rapist whether it hasn't been said in a court of law or not. Something caused this girl to kill herself. Obviously there was enough evidence to get him indited. So yeah, he's a rapist whether the law says he is or not, if he did rape her.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

If he did it then he is a rapist whether it's proven in a court of law or not.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

To be technical he is over the age of 18 and her being a minor makes this a case of statutory rape whether or not she consented to it. So yes, he is a rapist if he had sex with her and if any sort of intimate activity happened between them he is a child molester. But I am just being technical here.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

So a woman has never lied about being raped in order to screw someone over, ever?

You know what probably happened? She got dolled up in order to look older, lied about her age, they did it, someone she knew found out, she cries rape to try and preserve her image.

However, that's speculation.

Unfortunately, despite how the law should work, all a woman has to do is cry "rape", and she can ruin a guy's entire life.

You have already convicted this guy in your head. That's not fair to him at all. In fact I'd go as far as to say it's sexist.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

You misunderstood what I said. I said if he did it, if he raped her, then it doesn't matter whether he is convicted of it or not, he is a rapist whether anyone knows he is or not. I don't know whether he did it or not, I don't know whether he's a rapist or not, but convicted or not if he did rape her he is a rapist.

And sure let's blame the victim shall we. After all if a girl dresses provocatively then she's just asking to be raped right?

You are right though, we live in a society where if someone is blamed of rape whether it's proven or not people will always think they are a rapist, unless of course it is proven without a doubt it wasn't rape. It's not right, but there's nothing we can do about it because anything we would try would just make it harder for real victims to get justice, something that is already difficult enough.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

I did not even come close to saying that.

Also, yeah, if he did do it, he's a rapist. But repeating that over and over again implies that he is, regardless of evidence.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Fine. But I don't think it's completely crazy to think that he most likely is a rapist. I mean if he had sex with her then it's statutory rape whether it was consensual or not. Also if the girl wasn't raped why put herself through the process of a trial and getting harrassed at school. She killed herself for goodness sakes. Obviously something was going on. And obviously there was enough evidence supporting her claim to get charges filed against him.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

And it's this line of thinking that prevents those who have been falsely accused from leading normal lives.

I'm putting money on her suicide being the result of everyone knowing she was falsely accusing him and giving her shit for it. I'm not saying it was right if that was the case, but look at the article. The entire school is split over the whole thing. Obviously we're not getting the whole story.

The only feedback we're getting is from her mother, so of course she's the "innocent victim."

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

I'm never gonna encounter this kid. You're right though it's the world we live in and it sucks. However I have to ask why are you so bent of believing he's innocent?

You are right though we are only hearing from the mother, it would be interesting to hear what supporters of the guy have to say.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Because the article and OP are bent on believing he's guilty. :bleh:

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Well since this is the debate forum I guess that's acceptable. :bleh:

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Why were the charges dropped? Even if the victim cannot testify, surely there is plenty of other evidence that can be examined that would satisfy a verdict. Perhaps the details of what he said to the victim won't be addressed because even if the parents know them, they may be considered heresay without evidence. But those aren't really necessary with all other evidence. I guess the guy could be sued civilly but I wonder, if the criminal case got dropped, would the civil case get dropped as well? I know there's a difference in the evidence accepted between the two but if there's undeniable evidence for the criminal case and that gets dropped, seems probable it'd get dropped civilly.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

This was on another forum I'm on strictly for mothers. The aunt of the girl posted it..
It's awful. According to the aunt, the girl had a few brothers and one of the brothers found her dead.

To the people saying this guy is "Innocent" If he was so innocent why was he creating problems for the girl at school? Why wouldn't he just leave her alone and face his trial like an INNOCENT person? There was no need for him to bully her and have others get in on it outside of the trial.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Maybe he shouldn't be considered one by people like us that don't know for sure whether he is or not. However if he did rape her evidence or not to him and anyone who knows that he did it he's a rapist. The fact is though there are some people out there that have not been proven guilty that are certainly not innocent of their crime. Like OJ Simpson for one. Or what about people that get off on techincalities, that you know did it, but becaue of some stupid thing they get off. Or let's say I have a friend who was raped by her boyfriend, but she won't report it. He hasn't been proven guilty in the law, but to me he's a rapist end of story. Or what about people that beat their significant others that are never reported. Just because they haven't been convicted that doesn't make them a abuser.

In the mother's eyes this guy raped her daughter. All she needed was her daughter to tell her so. It doesn't matter if the courts say he is guilty or not, he will ALWAYS be guilty to her. Her reactions are certainly justifiable. She lost her daughter, she's in pain, and now the guy she feels is responsible for her daughter's death is getting off scott free. How the hell would you react? I mean are you seriously going to tell me that in that situation you would say "Oh well since the courts let you off I guess I should too. I mean my daughter told me you raped her, she killed herself over it, but you haven't been proven guilty by the law, so I guess that means you are innocent."

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

If you'd read the entire article, you'd know that the entire school is split over the whole thing, and that a half of the school is pretty much giving her crap.

Also, if someone was falsely accusing me of rape, I'd be up in their shit.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

The burden of proof is much lower in civil cases than in criminal - in civil cases the test is one of "balance of probabilities", thereby requiring a 51% or greater likelihood that the defendant committed the alleged act or omission. Criminal cases rely on the test of "beyond reasonable doubt", which depending upon who you speak to can be anything from 95% to 99.9% likelihood that the defendant committed the alleged act or omission. One can easily fail the "beyond reasonable doubt" test and still easily pass the "balance of probabilities" test, and indeed a lot of civil cases arise for that very reason. The criminal case being dropped will therefore not prevent a civil suit being brought, and indeed may make it easier as the offence is no longer being dealt with by another arm of the justice system.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

I'm not saying he should be convicted of it as they now don't have any one to testify against him. What I'm saying is, he has NOT acted like an innocent person and therefore comes across as guilty.

I under stand that if someone accused you of rape you would be upset but to bully that person in school KNOWING you have to go to trial over the case just screams guilty to me.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

That is stupid... you would think they would do the trail as they would if the person was unable to testify....

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Did I say all men were rapists? No.
If I did, then I wouldn't be married.

Re-read what I said, if you can't understand it then I'm sorry. But no where in there did I say he should get charged, and no where in there did I say that every man was a rapists just because.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Its great when people let their government think for them.

Maybe he's not a rapist.

Or maybe he'll go brag about how he raped this chick and got away with it. Then maybe one of the girls brothers will beat the shit out of him. All hypothetical of course.

The courts are run by humans who make mistakes. Maybe it isn't on record that he is "guilty" or "not guilty", all that really matter in my eyes is if he did do it that he gets what is coming to him... as evil as that sounds.

But if he did not do it, which is a definite possibility, then I do feel sorry for him because he probably really is screwed for life since he will probably always be labeled a rapist.

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

And why were the two allowed to attend the same school, especially with the amount of bullying going on?

Re: Teen's Rape Charges Dropped Because Victim Kills Self
 

To be fair the only evidence which could conclusively demonstrate that sexual intercourse took place would be medical evidence, which would only be raised at trial and not distributed to the media. It seems fair to say that such evidence or similar did exist, as I would be very surprised if the DA took the decision to prosecute based solely on the victim's testimony. That to my mind makes the decision not to proceed more of a concern, but in any event it means that such evidence is unlikely to make it into the public domain. Leaving that aside, several reports have claimed that the defendant did admit they had sex, but that it was consensual. To my mind that should still have sufficied for a charge of statutory rape; my impression is that they probably concluded it was not in the public interest to proceed with a trial, in which case they should have said so rather than what appears to have been quite a cloak-and-dagger enterprise.

As a further aside to this story, it appears further allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against the young man in question, and that he has now left the high school: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...vestigate.html