St. Paul's School rape trial prosecutor: Case highlights need for dialogue about sexual assault

bertreapot · 2015-08-29T16:19:40+00:00

But given Owen's age in the case, she added, rehabilitation would be the most important option "so that he can move forward in life and move beyond this and not continue to commit crimes of this nature will be the most important component.

The way I understand the verdict, Labrie was convicted of the state's version of consensual sex with a minor, along with using a computer to "lure" her (i.e., communicate with her).

As the "senior salute" at this school is purportedly seniors trying to have sex with younger students, I'm not sure how Mr. Labrie could "reoffend." Is he going to relive being a senior in highschool at some point in his life?

The prosecutor has to be joking, saying something like this. She does a disservice to the legal community and to her office in particular.

SAGReiss · 2015-08-29T16:35:45+00:00

This is just insane. She said he fucked her despite her explicit lack of consent. The jury says she's lying. He says he didn't fuck her. The jury says he's lying. They acquit him of all of the felony charges, except using a computer to engage in consensual sex acts with an age-of-consent minor? This is a typical example of the following reasoning: "We don't know what the fuck happened, so let's just give him a slap on the wrists," except that it's ugly for him.

CaptSnap · 2015-08-30T15:15:06+00:00

This is one of the comments from the article:

No, what it highlights the need for is conversation about what consent is. To have consent, there must be a consistent, affirmative, and clear presence of "yes" throughout the encounter. Many articles have discussed that the jury did not think she made her "no" as clear as she should have. That was not her responsibility, she said she was uncomfortable and scared into minor shock which is very common among rape victims. It was his responsibility to ensure that he had a clear "yes" the entire time which it was shown he was not sure of, he just didn't hear "no" he claimed. The questions asked were wrong, and that's why this monster is walking free. It's the jury (and the general public for that matter) that need to have the dialogue changed. It's cases like this that scare women from reporting rape. They're really the ones put on trial for credibility, and often they lose like this.

Im curious if she had his consent throughout the entire "encounter". It was/is just as much her responsibility as his to insure that they each have each other's consent. Could she prove that she had his consent like he was tasked on the stand? The fact that this "yes means yes" could possibly work both ways doesnt even enter this commenter's mind and until it does they will remain an ardent supporter of the erosion of due process. I am curious if they were both using the computer to talk to one another how it was determined and proven that he was the one and the only one using it to solicit sex. Since by definition sex requires two to tango, wouldnt proving he was soliciting and the fact that they both went as far towards having it as the other mean she was also? What I mean is, sex is quite unlike a transaction in that you give me but I dont give you, its something two people both give the other. If he had sex, then she did also. Anyways, Im curious....its kind of a stupid law anyway. If its illegal for people to go online to solicit sex then I know an entire generation that can be locked up because thats pretty much all the kids in college do.

I think either way, it is going to scare more victims (of either sex) away from reporting if they, themselves, cant prove they arent rapists.

Title	St. Paul's School rape trial prosecutor: Case highlights need for dialogue about sexual assault
Author	whine_and_cheese
Upvotes	15
Comments	4
Date	August 29, 2015 3:41 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/3iur6g/st_pauls_school_rape_trial_prosecutor_case/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/st-pauls-school-rape-trial-prosecutor-case.972349 https://theredarchive.com/post/972349

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