Ched Evans verdict

The gofundme is currently over 6.5k, its good to have a place/means for people to pledge their support and publicly stand by the fact that this isn't justice.

I asked for my earlier posts to be deleted as I worried they were in bad taste given the context of the thread, and I also felt I had overshared somewhat. But just in case anyone thinks I said something terrible it was only about this trial/verdict being very triggering, feeling a need for physical closeness and feeling loved to counter that for me, and possibly other people have experienced this.

Can't get over this verdict, me neither Carrie. That final paragraph of the original statement bothers me as well - she made no complaint, the police did, yet she is being blamed (by some) which adds to the unfairness.

This was the original statement after CE was first convicted:

'Ched Evans took advantage of a vulnerable young woman who was in no fit state to consent to sexual activity. He did so knowingly and with a total disregard for her physical or emotional well-being.
'It is a myth that being vulnerable through alcohol consumption means that a victim is somehow responsible for being raped. The law is clear: being vulnerable through drink or drugs does not imply consent.
'Rape is an extremely damaging offence, but it can also be one of the most misunderstood and difficult to prosecute.
'The Crown Prosecution Service, in partnership with the police and other agencies, is working hard to help combat and dispel the myths and stereotypes that exist around the issue of rape.
'We want victims to feel that they can report an offence to the police, confident in the knowledge that their complaint will be taken seriously and they will be treated with respect.'

That is until 2 witnesses come forward, and the victim's sexual history is brought into evidence, and then find him not guilty.

Can't get over this verdict.

Re "putting yourself in dangerous situations"

Beyond- I'm not sure what point you are making?

I've spoken elsewhere about the man who wanted to pay me to "take his virginity".
After my rape, I considered it and very nearly went through with it.

It's well known that many rape victims often have consensual sex relatively soon (in the eyes of society) after being raped.

If with someone they know and/or love e.g a long term partner or a friend; it's a way to 're-set' in some psychological way 'sex', that it's a trusting and affectionate act with someone you like and feel safe with.

If with a one night stand and/or with a stranger it's a way of reclaiming your body and in many ways your pysche - you are consenting and that's your decision and yours alone - you are exercising autonomy over your body.

And also putting yourself into dangerous situations - 'coming on' to people you would normally cross the road to avoid because it's a kind of test; this time you'll be in control - this time you'll fight or whatever you think you 'should' have done when you were raped. This time will be different and you won't be raped.

All of these things are common. Rape Crisis and counselling centres understand it. A lot of Police officers do too. MH services usually understand it.

Society (and therefore the people on a Jury) often don't.

I know what you mean pink, I don't think you should panic and get it deleted

Yep. Nothing else to add but my agreement.

And yy to the not traumatised enough narrative. It plays back to just not being the perfect enough victim.

Just going back a bit, I hadn't known about the Javan Vidal assault. Interesting how they describe her state of inebriation but not theirs. They would undoubtedly have been drinking.

Should women be warned of the increased risk of violence from men when they drink? In fact forget that as that would put women in the position of having to avoid men. The message should go to men to stop drinking. How often do we see that message: Don't put others in danger by drinking too much.

Alcohol is a massive factor in rape - amongst the perpetrators. They lose their inhibitions and you see what they are truly like beneath the thin veneer of respectability. Because they are always like that, they can just hide it better when sober.

I had no idea trauma reenactment is a thing. It helps me tremendously to know that.

Totally agree.

Trauma reenactment is a recognised response to traumatic events, and is common among rape victims.

I really really REALLY hate the rape apologist logic that someone is not sufficiently traumatised if they have sex with someone else too soon afterwards (on some arbitrary scale). It is a rape myth which definitely needs to be strongly challenged.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ched-evans-rape-trial-footballer-12001362

Link.

Buttercup this is from walesonline's reporting:

The court heard that the alleged victim woke the next morning and felt some pain in her “private parts”.

Mr Medland said she had some “minor visible injuries”.

He added: “She remembers practically nothing of the events of that night and can only piece together some fragments of it.

Clearly so.

But the law is an ass. And a misogynist one at that.

But the fact she was traumatised was because she didn't remember and was obviously distraught at the thought.

The fact remains that she could still have given a drunk impression that she was willing at the time.

She may have no recollection the next day and be traumatised because of it but that doesn't necessarily mean that it was rape - I suppose that's what the courts felt this time round?

Maybe we should only pursue criminals if the victim is traumatised. Let them carry on their crimes until they do really upset someone. Where's the harm.

I don't think the validity of any crime rests on how well the victim copes with it, and to decide whether or not to pursue a case on that basis would be dangerous. But I suppose that would only apply to rape cases. I can't see anyone saying "Someone stole twenty grand from this millionaire, but they won't miss it, they are hardly traumatised so no point pursuing it". Wouldn't fly.

"I don't think she would have had sex with me two weeks later if she had been raped, she clearly wasn't traumatised enough to be a rape victim" seems to go merrily unchallenged.

Serious question - if you woke up in a strange hotel rom, alone and naked, having wet the bed and with no memory of how you got there... what would you conclude?

Just because she wasn't going to report it (most victims don't) doesn't mean she didn't know damn well that something very bad had happened to her.

Exactly.

And the fact that the police picked up on what she wasn't explicitly telling them is a credit to them imo.

I don't understand how anyone can say she can't be traumatised if she doesn't remember tbh. Do you not think you would be traumatised if you woke up one morning and found that a man you never met had penetrated you during the night?