UK: Four in court charged with raping a man

Submitted by anthony on Fri, 2009-09-25 21:23

Article here. This is one to watch. Will we see a sentencing disparity? Excerpt:

'Two teenage girls have been charged with the alleged rape of a man in Cippenham in July.

The 17-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Maidenhead Youth Court on Thursday, September 17.

Both girls are charged with rape, false imprisonment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).

They have been bailed to await their next court appearance at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, October 15.

Two men in their twenties appeared at Slough Magistrates' Court on July 11 also charged with rape, false imprisonment and ABH.

They have been remanded in custody and will appear at Reading Crown Court on October 15 for a plea and case management hearing.'

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Comments

I can't make out a single detail of what happened from the news item, it tells what they were charged with but not a single detail about the events leading to the charges. Who the heck knows who did what to whom or where or when or anything. Hard to tell if one party should be held to greater responsibility when the report does not say what anyone did.

Don't get me wrong, I think the news should not report the facts of the case before those facts have been heard at trial. THIS IS the type of coverage all crimes should receive. However it only seems the media can withhold it's own verdict until after the jury reaches theirs when females are involved.

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Submitted by Paragon on Sat, 2009-09-26 02:27

    Two teenage girls have been charged with the alleged rape of a man in Cippenham in July.

Since when is anyone charged with an "alleged" crime? And are the identity of 17-year-old alleged male rapists protected in the UK?

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Submitted by Hunchback on Sat, 2009-09-26 04:34

ALL charges ARE allegations and therefore, all crimes should be refereed to as ALLEGED until the conclusion of either a plea deal or trial to test the facts of the case.

Problem is, the media acts as judge jury and executioner in many cases by using language of guilt when describing the accused from the second they are arrested, often before charges are even officially laid. Media convicts in public circles without the right ofa trail of the accused.

ALL criminal charges should have the details of the allegations WITHHELD and the names of ALL CONCERNED withheld until AFTER a resolution (trial, plea, dismissal etc) has been reached.

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Submitted by Paragon on Sat, 2009-09-26 21:07

One is charged with a crime or alleged to have committed one. To be "charged with an alleged" crime could possibly mean that there is doubt that a crime ever occurred--something never seen in male-on-female rape charges. This construction is typical of the mealy-mouthed way journalists describe female malefaction. No biggie, just a minor irritant.

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Submitted by Hunchback on Sun, 2009-09-27 01:00

I am sure the British tabloids are having a big laugh over this.

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Submitted by Luek on Mon, 2009-09-28 03:03