Woman who accused high-flying Durham student of rape tried to drop her false claim - but was told 'It's out of your hands'. The astonishing revelation heaps further pressure on police and prosecutors who have come under fire over their handling of the case.

DavidByron2 · 2016-01-17T02:05:04+00:00

This is standard for any criminal charge. The state brings the case not the witness. If she really wanted to stop the case all she had to do would be refuse to testify, or of course admit that she lied. She did not do this.

and she proceeded to give evidence against the innocent history student

So the title is bollocks. She didn't try to back out of what she said and in fact kept to her lies. All she tried to do was suggest that the case not go forward after all which is absolutely not up to her. if it was then any criminal could escape justice simply by putting pressure on the key witness in any case.

Having said that a sensible prosecution would know that a woman who cries rape and then tries to back away from the claim fits the description of a false accuser. in conjunction with other signs they should have realised what was going on and refused to bring a case against the innocent victim man.

bertreapot · 2016-01-17T03:53:22+00:00

‘She told a police officer she was still seeing her boyfriend. You know he dumped her shortly after. She told her counsellor they split in the summer. After being dumped she did try to withdraw the allegations but it was, in effect, out of her hands by then.

Well that explains it. Based on the other news stories I've seen, it seems very likely that the woman told her BF the affair was rape in order to salvage her relationship. The boyfriend leaves her anyway, she wants to withdraw the complaint, but it is too late by then. I think unfortunately this is often the case: once friends/family/police get involved, a lying complainant gets in over her head, and goes forward with the lie to keep from getting in trouble.

actingverystrangely · 2016-01-17T01:45:24+00:00

'Once she has reported it she has started a process she could not halt. Although she tried to drop the charges, she couldn’t realistically.’

Realistically? Once false rape accusers get on the express bus, there's no getting off til destination HappyVille. What a drag for them.

McFeely_Smackup · 2016-01-17T03:26:03+00:00

There's no such thing as a victim dropping, or even pressing charges...that's a Hollywood fiction.

In reality a victim is just a witness like any other, the prosecutor decides if charges are pursued or dropped.

Tmomp · 2016-01-17T11:33:21+00:00

As I wrote before:

An entitled, vindictive, lying woman is a problem.

The bigger problem is a legal system that consistently supports her and women like her, not learning from its mistakes.

We have to organize and work effectively to change that system.

lostapwbm · 2016-01-17T06:15:01+00:00

This is the common law response. A criminal complaint is filed on behalf of the State, which created the law which was broken. A complainant might refuse to cooperate, but once the charges are filed, the only people who can put on the brakes are the judge or the prosecutor.

2016-01-17T11:51:52+00:00

she proceeded to give evidence against the innocent history student

Don't they mean "false evidence"? I mean, if the accusations are false...

The law student, who has a history of depression and self-harm

Hello personality disorder! Why am I not surprised to find you here?

last night led calls for rape defendants to remain anonymous in press reports

Why specify press reports? Do they specify that when talking about the false accusers anonymity?

Tedesche · 2016-01-18T15:24:03+00:00

I just don't understand why media outlets continue to shield these womens' names after they admit to lying. It makes no sense.

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