Ched Evans wins appeal

[Childrenofthestones]

Sorry I can't link but it's on the BBC site.

Valanice, I totally agree. I bet she wishes she hadn't bothered to track down her handbag. She has lost so much. I wonder if she even wanted to testify. I was a witness once and the police were desperate for a conviction (something much less serious than this) and they threatened me with arrest if I didn't go to court. I feel so bad for her.

I await the Hello magazine spread "Our falsely accused hell"

He will will cheered on whilst playing football for Chesterfield, given pats on the back by everyone and his wife and child will be happy. Just like Donald Trump is cheered on despite his abhorrent behaviour. Consent or not, CE's behaved in a despicable way towards women, as outlined in the court. He is not a man of upstanding character you would want to have anywhere near members of your family unless you yourself are a hater of women. He can indeed throw enough money at it, but you really cannot polish a turd.

And now it's a free for all in the courts regarding sexual assault and rape against women, because unless you are a nun, lesbian, in a committed relationship with another man (ownership much?), then having sex with others means you are fair game. It's a wonder chastity belts aren't being brought back. This is indeed a step back in women's rights, but women's rights are always precarious, because sex.

If she brought a civil claim she would get anonymity (like the victim of the (attempted) rapist who won the lottery though she later waived it) and she would only have to reach the balance of probabilities. But

No legal aid.
Testifying for the third time.
Anonymity is only as good as it is; there is no real protection against her name spreading through social media and by word of mouth.

The verdict of this jury does not make law in future cases.

But I am troubled, disappointed, angry. As a PP said - at least he did thirty months and I can't see him rebuilding his career.

Dervel - I'd happily donate to one.

Or Natasha will appear on CBB.
Ched is Bound to appear on this morning or GMB at some point.

Andrew - I agree. I really can't imagine shed want to put herself through a third trial. It really is a hell is experience.

The law hasn't changed. The justice system was institutionally misogynist before, and it still is now. It's just that more people are aware of exactly how rape victims are treated by our courts.

I imagine reporting rates will go down. Who would report in similar circumstances, having seen what this poor girl has been put through?

Yes, it looks like a news media blackout in our house.

I think the girlfriend is just as annoying, as I look at her and think "FFS WHY are you still with that loser?" but then I've seen the way she's referred to the victim and think "okay, no sympathy for you then. You're well matched."

Ok I accept the victim in this particular case may want it just over with. I'm just proposing a private charity that provides legal aid to women to pursue rapists through civil court.

If nothing else it would show victims of rape wider society does not accept how they have been treated, and are not prepared to tolerate rapists getting off Scott free.

They'll definitely be doing the chat show circuit next week. I wish they'd probe him about whether he bought an acquittal over five years but I think it will be more "oh it must have been hell for you"

^ hellish not hell is

It's curious that all those that (rightly) decried him a rapist due to the fact that he was found guilty are not now somewhat reluctant to accept the verdict.

His behaviour fell short of what most of us might expect, but he's been found not guilty of a truly disgusting crime. It's time for him to re-build his life.

There really aren't any winners in this case.

Can we just be certain that the new evidence was that she had sex drunk previously or is it likely we're missing something else?

I would donate if there was one Dervel. It's well known that most rapist's get off scot free due, and most victims are failed by our justice system. It would be good to see a charity committed to funding civil suits.

Ok I accept the victim in this particular case may want it just over with. I'm just proposing a private charity that provides legal aid to women to pursue rapists through civil court.

Where the burden of proof is set (in my opinion) at too low a level. Rape is a criminal offence, and should be tried accordingly.

the deluge of positive publicity is coming, and it's going to be horrible

Nauseating. I'm going to have to avoid TV and social media for a while, in case I see him doing his best "hurt puppy" face.

Absolutely gutted with this verdict. I have followed this case with a level head since the onset and cannot, cannot fathom this.

Shocking day for British justice. Shocking.

If he'd have been found not guilty due to actual evidence that would be one thing. But to be found not guilty due to the victim having a sex life before and after the incident simply shows that the facts of the case did not change at all - therefore how could he be not guilty? its just wrong.

Rape is a criminal offence, and should be tried accordingly.

I agree, but the reality is that our criminal system routinely fails victims.

I wouldn't take issue with you on your point at all Malice absolutely it should be handled in the criminal courts.

I'm just advocating that we need a cultural shift, and rather than a man walking free (as in this case), any and all avenues to pursue him should be taken.

It would change the whole tone of public debate if he was found innocent in criminal court but culpable in a civil context. People couldn't just argue he'd done nothing wrong and was as pure as the driven snow just because of a not guilty verdict.

Could he sue NW Police for loss of earnings and the fact that he missed out on Wales' success in the Euros etc etc?

Malice - I can only speak for myself, but I'm pretty shocked that the evidence offered in court was considered sufficient to quash his conviction in the first place. I accept that he has now been found not guilty, but I'm genuinely surprised that the two juries reached such different conclusions when the only new evidence presented is that she consented to sex with someone else at another time. I don't understand how it could make that much difference.

Woman Perhaps, but the answer isn't (in my opinion) to seek a lower burden of proof. It would leave wealthy men in particular vulnerable.

I thought some things on the #Guardian were interesting, some details just coming out:

"It can now be revealed that:

During the appeal case that led to the retrial, lawyers for the crown suggested the two new witnesses may have been “fed” information by those close to Evans. This claim was rejected by Evans’s side.

Evans’s fiancee, Massey, was accused in legal argument during the second trial of offering an “inducement” to a key witness. The prosecution said this had “the flavour of a bribe”. The trial judge disagreed with this description.

The appeal court judges, whose decision can be reported for the first time, expressed “a considerable degree of hesitation” before allowing in the new evidence of the former partners because it resulted in the complainant’s sexual behaviour being subject to forensic scrutiny – which is almost always banned.

The complainant continues to be named and abused on social media though the law gives her lifelong anonymity. The police are investigating one blog that identified her during the trial.

I've been following this trial and was dreading (but expecting) this verdict. I'm devastated at what this means for women now.