Not read the full thread.
Ched Evans has been found not guilty of rape. He brought evidence to show that the girl in question behaved similarly sexually with him as with men she slept with consensually in the days and weeks before and afterwards. That evidence was accepted by the jury.
Was it fair that originally ched was found guilty but another footballer who had sex with her minutes before was not? Of course not - there are huge issues with the original jury finding she was too drunk to consent and yet only one of her sexual partners found guilty of rape. That's why the appeal won. It smacks of the jury finding the one who 'joined in' guilty because they found it distasteful. Sexually distasteful behaviour is not illegal and has made the 50shades woman rather rich.
I don't think either footballer covered themselves in glory that night but on the evidence it doesn't look like rape. She was walking (cctv showed quite normally on entering hotel) and talking and able to direct sexual events. Are men now expected to make women walk the line or do a breathalyser test before sleeping with them? Would she have alleged rape if they had not been famous? We'll never know.
I am female. I am in the law. I am hugely concerned about the stats on successful rape trials which are woefully low. But if you get drunk and go to a hotel room with a footballer and have consensual sex but don't remember, that is not rape. It depends on the evidence, and the evidence suggested she was willing. The jury agreed.
She no doubt regrets her decision to report the incident now her sexual history is everywhere and people know who she is because her name was published. But if they are not guilty of rape but just guilty of being dickheads, do those footballers deserve to lose their livelihoods too? Permanently lose their reputations and ability to work for sexually stupid behaviour when young and idolised and as in need of guidance as any other young person? I genuinely don't think so.
I think this case shows the need for anonymity of both sides in sexual assault cases. If the jury hadn't known the case involved footballers, I doubt ched would have been convicted in the first place.