Ulster Rugby trial -continued

Most of the vile comments on twitter say that the woman in question got her period early. No big deal

That's what she thought at first. But then the doctor confirmed that it wasn't menstrual blood.

Why are they ignoring the facts?!

You can't reason with stupid.

Fucking hell. These are possible future jury members.

You'd think so Zibbidoo, but to him she was just a piece of meat to 'spitroast'.

And from the Irish Times:

'It also did not hear about pictures sent by a friend of the men, identified as AA, to a WhatsApp group containing Mr Jackson, Mr Olding and Mr McIlroy.

The pictures showed AA having sex with a woman in the recent past. One of the accused men reacted “very enthusiastically” to the pictures, the prosecution said.'

Vile.

Everyone who is defending the players, are ignoring some of the most basic facts. Like the injuries she sustained.

They bang on about how her story had 'so many inconsistencies' yet they ignore the players many many inconsistencies outright lies

I have been outraged by this case. And my head hurts from the virtual banging on the brick wall.

If one more person says 'they were found innocent' and therefore 'she is lying' I will lose it!!!!!!

The abuse on twitter is surreal.

One lady made some brilliant comments, and because in her profile picture she has short hair (yes, I know that sounds silly) the men were saying comments like 'don't worry love, you'll never get raped'. Like getting raped was something to aspire too, and proves you're 'attractive' enough to be raped!

Situp
You and me both.
DH is with the 'lads'

DH and I have really fallen out over this. He gets his information from rugby forums and the attitude on many of them is that these players are victims, the WhatsApp messages were just silly banter and because they were found not guilty, the victim was lying.

I look at my 2 DDs and feel so enraged that I can't offer them a world where they won't be second class, that even violation of their person will be seen as not a big deal or their fault.

I worked in professional rugby for 10 years, and sadly, although there are a lot of teams who wouldn't touch these players with a barge pole, they will get professional contracts. Part of community work of players is to visit schools and promote grass roots rugby. Would anyone want these players talking to our daughters about the respect within the game?

Ugh!!!!
Harrison bringing the victim home and then sending a video of spit roasting the next day to his mates.

No problem that none of the accused's statements matched, that they had deleted texts, met up to discuss their "story", didn't have to explain the old bloodstains on the sheets , had time to wash their clothes afterwards, semen on the crotch of the girl's jeans not allowed to be mentioned but the complainant had to have perfect recall with no discrepancies whatsoever

Yes exactly. I think certain things shouldn't be allowed in defence as they are prejudicial. Such as suggesting she was trying to come across as "the perfect rape victim"
Or allowing the regret myth as a defence

Exactly, FeministBadger - redacted documents must be obviously redacted.

They can't just be retyped.

Agree Maryz. Can't believe photos used as evidence can be airbrushed!

Has it ever been permissible to present doctored evidence in a court of law without it being made obvious to the jury? Can only think of redacted documents where it's clear that something is missing.

I would have expected the defence to say if it was his blood. Rugby players must get loads of bangs, so their blood on sheets wouldn't be a surprise.

Getting it removed from the evidence, though - that raises the question of whether it was someone else's blood.

Not to mention the fact that it's now legally allowed to airbrush evidence to be shown in a court of law. That's a whole other thread entirely

The old blood stains is more horrific than I had imagined - it makes me hope there's a hell waiting for them one day.

'...... had no intention of saying where this blood came from.'

Excuse my stupidity but ????

The Irish Independent's reporting of the pornographic video clips and their relevance to the fact that the four had discussed it the next day (which they denied) is, in my opinion, the most relevant.

It looks as though they sent the clip (which all four saw) and may have discussed it at lunch, which does make it seem (allegedly obviously , I don't want the link deleted) that they certainly had an opportunity to compare stories.

Agree, *Quentin. And as for the bloodstains.

No problem that none of the accused's statements matched, that they had deleted texts, met up to discuss their "story", didn't have to explain the old bloodstains on the sheets , had time to wash their clothes afterwards, semen on the crotch of the girl's jeans not allowed to be mentioned but the complainant had to have perfect recall with no discrepancies whatsoever.

So much left unexplained.

Fucking he'll. Cannot believe the evidence about the semen was not allowed. Jesus.

IT seems apparent where Bel Tel’s loyalties lie, doesn’t it.

Reported in the media ban being lifted but neglected reporting all the really distasteful information, which it is now permitted to share.

Ran a front page article about the advert on reinstating those two ... men.

I cannot believe the things the jury were not allowed to hear. Can't believe it.

www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/belfast-rape-trial-the-legal-arguments-revealed-1.3458269

I signed the IRFU petition and have been hounded with abusive messages on facebook (some by PM) as a result. Insulting my looks, my intelligence, just generally everything about me.

It won't stop me, but bloody hell it is pissing me off that when women dare to say 'you know what, we deserve better than this' people get SO angry. And I think the most disappointing thing of all is that some of the most vicious abuse is from other women.

www.facebook.com/belfasttelegraph/posts/10156066077453819

His comment is on this link.