Gents, wondering what the take is on this.

My friend just supported another female friend through an SA case. The defendant was 19 at the time and a virgin. The man in question was 25 and essentially even though she was consensual to go over to his house (on the 4th date) and she was initially consensual to sex, she withdrew consent verbally during the act because he was insanely too tough and not listening to her verbally telling him to stop. It was done in the bathroom, she had bruises all over her neck from being strangled too hard when she was refusing consent. The guy locked her in the bathroom afterward when she was crying (it had a lock from the outside) after the alleged SA. She then banged on the door, there was a housemate home who investigated and with the perpetrator unlocked the door. My friend went and picked her up not knowing the full extent (otherwise would have called cops) at which time took her straight to the police and then to hospital for the examinations for evidence.

Two years later the perpetrator hired the most renowned SA defence lawyer in the country and the court case started. And they found reasonable doubt mainly in text messages prior where she referred to him as dominant and how she found it sexy. 9 out of the 12 jurors agreed it was without reasonable doubt SA, 3 (men) had reasonable doubt hence the defence bio won the case.

In the girls opinion and for all her friends it was the classic failure of the system because he hired such a great lawyer. And further proved to them a floored system particularly in the fact it was all men that found reasonable doubt and it was a vast majority male jurors. For reference the verdict brought some male jurors to tears and distress as they felt so passionate toward the guilty verdict.

These are the types of cases imo that create the genuine desire for woman to be supported and heard when SA is legit, as it was just years of torment and reliving it only to be let down and pointless (other than at least there is an accusation if he does it again). And seeing the father and family destroyed by the loss is sobering to what may be a very common situation. I do think there are perhaps too many accusations particularly when men achieve a level of status and wealth but I think in many circles there is potentially far more losses of justice as it’s his word against hers and blurred consent or withdrawing of it.