To be annoyed with coronation street? NB CONTAINS SPOILERS

[rhondajean]

To put it mildly.

I know that the stats on rape convictions are ridiculously low, and I know this is a soap, not real,life, but, surely this will put even more women off reporting what happens to them??

Everyone that shags Carla ends up dead. Watch out, Peter!

Ooh I thought she did report it later? I'm not an avid watcher though....

Unfortunately Maria did misinterpret what had happened. Remember that the whole encounter was shown. It culminated exactly how Frank described it in the courtroom scene. He lunged for a snog. She shook him off. He desisted. Over in 30 seconds.

It's soap opera,schlocky gasp and watch rubbish
Corrie has absolutely no social responsibility to sensitively address social issues,criminality or rape

And you're a bit deluded if you expect or hope for mass entertainment soap to address a criminal justice issue

I hope that people question their responses to real life cases; it is so easy to negatively portray a woman and be believed.

The myth that only the sweetest and most innocent of women can be victims ought to be addressed in society too.

Scottishmummy- it was a story line in Corrie that changed the law about putting single mums in prison for not having a television licence.

It doesn't address social issues, not in the way that Brookside did in it's early days. It is a soap, though, it shows real life isssues, which for some is the only way that they would be aware of those issues.

meditrina, the encounter with Maria was a sign of things to come as Frank did NOT stop when Maria said no, he carried on and got forceful. He didn't stop as soon as she made it clear it was "NO".

Birdsgottafly- agree. With up to 12million viewers soaps have power, influence and responsibility. They have done rape and assault victims no favours this week.

I really disagree with Frank getting murdered- it's too quick! he needs to pay and to suffer and to reflect. Preferably in a prison.

I think we must have watched different episodes the. In the one I saw, which was clearly the scene described at trial (general circumstances, contract etc), the physical contact lasted under 30 seconds, and consisted of a snog and one hand on thigh (over clothes) and stopped when she shook him off (probably second "no"). There was no force other than leaning (somewhat precariously) towards her.

I really cannot recall any other encounters between the two which fit the circumstances.

I did nothing to "set the character" of Frank, because the viewer knew it wasn't attempted rape. It did however (and IMO very unhelpfully) set a precedent that Frank's account was the accurate one.

I know what I would call that...

Well it confirms that 30 seconds was an over-estimate of how long it took for him to stop.

You really don't see anything wrong with that clip?

And I didn't even have the sound on watching it.

Maria said no numerous time and yet he still tried to force himself on her. If thats not classed as rape in some of your minds id hate to think what was.

If you had the sound off, and had not seen the events of the evening as a whole, then you do not have the full range of information that was available to the viewer.

I have not said that his actions were not wrong.

I do not say that's Maria's distress s unwarranted.

I do say that his actions do not meet the criteria for the specific criminal charge of attempted rape.

I do not think they would meet the criteria for any other sexual assault charge, either. But, as ever, ready to be corrected on points of law.

Meditrina- regardless of context, Maria made it clear many times that she was unhappy and he still carried on. Was she enjoying it? No. Did he have time to realise this? Yes but he carried on anyway. He did not stop after her first NO which he clearly heard. That's enough proof for me.

The fact it was only 30 seconds is not relevant. This is soap world, it did not happen in real time. That looks like an assault to me.