Neil Mitchell names the football players accused of rape.

[logansrogue]

All I'm hearing on the news right now is that "OH NO THEY'LL BE JUDGED!" and that their legal status have been compromised. In most crimes, I would be inclined to agree, but with rape, no, sorry, I don't.

Let's put it this way. In rape cases, particularly involving famous people and athletes, everything is against the person that comes forward and speaks about their abuse. It's bad enough for non-famous people. For people that an entire industry is invested in playing a season? Oh God, it's terrible.

I've just heard Jeff Kennett, Eddie Maguire and some other big-knob dudes just spout apologist crap about the entire situation. If their players don't want this kind of scrutiny and press, perhaps they shouldn't be violating people? Just a fucking suggestion.

Neil Mitchell, however, said that in recent history, players accused of rape were named, so he saw no reason to keep this secret when it wasn't against the law. I fucking agree. Bless his socks that he came forward. Hopefully women who tend to hang out with football players will know to avoid these fuckers.

Comments

[hanabishirecca.livejournal.com]

I disagree*, but only because I hate celebrity news. I cannot emphasize that enough. I don't give one rats ass about Tiger Woods, Michael Jackson, or Mel Gibson. Accusations of any kind, be it drug possession, rape, or anything else against a celebrity are just a way for the media to go ape shit crazy over the celebrity. The way the media treats celebrities, they are pretty much given a free pass on anything that they do. Even if they are guilty as sin, they are still bullet proof. Take OJ Simpson. He was a name that very few people knew. He didn't have a career at the time he committed a double murder. Now, he still doesn't have a career, but he is a bigger named celebrity. Mel Gibson is a horrible, horrible person. Despite all of this, he will walk away from his mess because he is a celebrity.


* The true crime here, is not whether or not the celebrity accused of raped is named. It is that rape is so damn difficult to convict. I don't know the conviction rates, but I believe in the US it is a single digit percentage. And that figure is based on reported cases of rape.

And as for publicly announcing the name, big fucking deal. Even if you are nobody, it doesn't mean jack fucking squat. In the legal system in the United States, you have to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This should be happening more often with rape, but it isn't. So, as a defendant accused of rape, you already have a big advantage. People are arraigned on charges all the time for crimes they didn't commit. All it means is that there was enough evidence to convince a grand jury that there is enough evidence for a trial.

But more importantly, announcing a name is very important to the legal system. If you have a history of doing this to others, no matter the crime, it brings to attention the case at hand. This may give courage to others to step forward and collaborate the story.

And if you didn't do it, you should have nothing to worry about so long as your lawyer is competent.

[mackenziex.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I'd like to see rape be a death penalty offense. I'd even like to bring back some of the methods used by the Roman Empire. Let's throw the bastards to the lions or hyenas. Prove them guilty then feed the animals.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

How'd I know you'd say that? :-P I'm a pacifist and I don't believe in the death penalty, but I've had my moments of frothing rage where I've been sorely tested in that belief.

You know someone's pissed me off beyond reproach if I can admit to that! Still, in the end, I'd never support such a thing.

I understand the fantasties can be cathartic for some people, though.