Allegations of Rape

[Supernick]

Yet again, we have another minor celebrity in the news for an alleged rape, after Sezer from Big Brother was arrested following an alleged incident in a hotel room.

Should we have laws introduced that protect a man's identity in cases such as these until conviction? If he has committed a crime then it is clearly a horrific act to put someone through, but if the allegations are proved false then he will have a millstone around his neck for the rest of his life. The 'no smoke without fire' brigade will never ever let him forget it.

What should be the appropriate offence for someone eho makes a false rape allegation? You obviously don't want to scare people away from reporting actual crimes with any new legislation.

[WaldoMcFroog]

There's a problem with providing anonymity in that sometimes publicity about a case may cause other victims to come forward with their allegations.

However, anyone found to be making a malicious false allegation of rape should, imo, recieve the same sentence that the alleged rapist would have received had he been found guilty.

[Whickerman]

I'm with Supernick. Even when a case is dropped, a man's good name can be ruined, as the mud sticks.

[Supernick]

That's an aspect that I'd not thought about Waldo. I would suggest that the potential for ruining the alleged rapist's life, is not justified by the possibility that other people may come forward.

[trionam]

I agree that something should change. He was actually nicknamed sezer the sleazer while on Big Brother I bet the is a lot of people already convinced of his guilt after his portrayal as a womaniser on the show. If his is proved innocent his accuser should be heavily punnished.

[jno]

well, there are false accusations and false accusations... many rape cases turn on whether there was consent or not; just because the jury finds in favour of the defendant doesn't mean the case was wholly without merit, just that the jury wasn't sure enough. No reason why such accusers should be punished, and there'd be an awful lot of women in jail if they were, because too many men are getting away with it.Then there are genuinely trumped-up allegations; these may bring the accuser a charge of wasting police time, perjury or whatever.

[beryllium]

so, according to The Sun, she was a top model, and doesn't want her name exposed.... me thinks Max Clifford may be doing the publicity if this proves untrue.

But... they also say she went through physical examination, and that is traumatic enough as it is.
and she was at the police station reporting it within hours of the 'alledged rape' surely she wouldn't do that just for publicity?

If this is geniune, then he will be punished. If it's not, then she should be done for wasting police time.

[beryllium]

sorry, meant to add that he should'nt have been named until proven...

[sp1814]

Therein lies the problem. If he's found not guilty, then should his accuser be liable for perjury? If that were the case, how many women would be put off even reporting rapes if they thought they could lose their own liberty.

As it is, only about 5% of reported rapes end up in a conviction.

[WaldoMcFroog]

That's why I made a point of saying 'malicious false allegation'. You certainly don't want a situation where any accustion of rape that is not accepted by a court carries the risk of a prison sentence, but I meant where the motive for making the accusation is clearly malicious.

There's problems however you try and address the issue, though. Either you protect the men or you protect the women but you can't blanket protect the innocent, it seems.

[Rock'n'Roll]

All I can add,is if I was ever falsely accused of rape,then I would as sure as hell make sure the accusers name was know all over the internet and damn the consequences I would face. On such a henious crime,I believe the bloke should have the rights afforded him as the female. If found guilty,then by all means,throw away the key

[feebee]

This is the second time he has been accused of date rape. The first girl's story was in the papers just after he was evicted.

I wonder if the Big Brother producers were aware of the first allegation and, if they were, should he have been allowed in the house.