Could you be friends with this person?

[mishfish]

I know I wouldn't, and I wouldn't (and don't) want anything to do with him so struggle to understand why anyone else would. It's difficult because it's a very close friends who chooses to

Person A:
Evidence of severe emotional abuse, co ersive control, severe aggression and knowingly passed on an STD to 3 women.
Evidence of emotional abuse, aggression and bullying towards a child
Evidence of severe financial abuse and theft from 2 of the women
Evidence of physical abuse to 1 of the women
Evidence of severely assaulting a house hold pet.

Friends have seen and heard evidence for all of the above, yet still remain to be friends with said person?

I think I need to either let go and forget about it, or move on from the friendship

If I knew an acquaintance was as described above I'd cut them out of my life like a hot potato. I know it's not my business who they're involved with, i find it hurtful. You can probably guess I'm one of the women

No, I couldn't have anything to do with someone like that.
I would probably distance myself from the mutual friend too.

So what's happened to him?
Surely you reported him for abusing an animal and abusing you?

Oh - and stealing from you?

How is he towards them as friends? I know what you mean but a lot of people won't know about everything he's done. They may hear 1 or 2 things and not know whether to believe it and feel like he behaves ok in their presence. Is that a possibility?

Or maybe he has power/money that attracts them?

hellsbells without saying too much he did get in trouble, now has a few convictions that don't look too great on him. He's also not allowed access to his child.

He did lie to everyone about the convictions. He thinks that people are too stupid to know that something called google exists!

flyme they both say he's a complete sociopath and is completely full of shit. I showed them all the evidence (including some pretty upsetting evidence relating to the animal and the assault) so they absolutely know what happened. That's why is surprises me to be honest, there really are no doubts about whether he did it. There's absolutely no power or money, though he makes out he is an impressive character they know the majority of it is bullshit.

I know it shouldn't but it kind of hurts my feelings. Maybe taking a break from the friendship is needed

Exactly what Sassypants82 said.

Ok so from their side they are friends with both of you.

From your side it's upsetting they have remained friends with him despite how he treated you, how he treated you is part of a pattern of him treating others (animals and people) appallingly and you feel a bit like 'why should he be allowed to treat people like this but it is me who has to lose friends'?

It's a simple answer. These mutual friends are not the kind of friends you need in your life. Losing them from your life can only be good for you.

Offred

I think that's it. Our children are very close friends and I don't feel comfortable with the thought that info on us could be getting passed on if you see what I mean, so it's not just me losing a friendship, it would be my child too which seems unfair when we've done nothing wrong

The benefits of gradually dropping them outweigh the drawbacks I would say.