DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Duke Lacrosse Players Innocent of All Charges

**grofvuri** · 04-14-2007, 03:22 PM

While the accuser's motives are not the central issue here, they should be an issue.

I said in the broader picture. What happens to the woman is unique to this case.

Prosecutorial misconduct, or at the least over zealousness, puts innocent people at risk of being charged with crimes on the word of one person. Remember Kobe Bryant?

I understand that we want to ensure the safety and anonymity of alleged rape victims

I think referring to an alleged rape victim as a victim before trial is a violation of the presumption of innocence of the defendant. but it's done in the media all the time.

In a murder case, once you've established the cause of death, you can refer to the deceased as a crime victim. It still must be proven that the defendant committed the crime, so theoretically at least, the presumption of innocence is maintained.

But in many rape cases, the issue is whether there was a rape at all, and conferring a victim status implies that there was, before trial.

04-14-2007, 03:22 PM	#15
grofvuri Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 423 Senior Member	While the accuser's motives are not the central issue here, they should be an issue. I said in the broader picture. What happens to the woman is unique to this case. Prosecutorial misconduct, or at the least over zealousness, puts innocent people at risk of being charged with crimes on the word of one person. Remember Kobe Bryant? I understand that we want to ensure the safety and anonymity of alleged rape victims I think referring to an alleged rape victim as a victim before trial is a violation of the presumption of innocence of the defendant. but it's done in the media all the time. In a murder case, once you've established the cause of death, you can refer to the deceased as a crime victim. It still must be proven that the defendant committed the crime, so theoretically at least, the presumption of innocence is maintained. But in many rape cases, the issue is whether there was a rape at all, and conferring a victim status implies that there was, before trial.
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