Been pondering on this, was posted a bit back in the thread.
It’s a very delicate subject area. But looking at this case particularly, if there was a manslaughter equivalent for rape, I wonder if the accused would still have been acquitted?
Yes, it's impossible to know. I think having other possible outcomes would eventually create a slow movement towards confidence in finding accused men culpable at some level.
I’m addition, would a judgement of the manslaughter equivalent of rape made the victim feel like justice had in some part been done, or would it be an insult?
This is so difficult to comment on because its so current and real for that young woman. And yes, I can see how anything less than a rape conviction could feel insulting for any woman who has been a victim.
However, speaking personally, I have some relevant experience but with a lot of lapsed time and I think I could support a policy/law change that might reduced offending/reoffending, even if it did not feel like "justice".
There's a balancing act in what we look for from the justice system when a crime is committed...justice, a "sense" of justice for the victim, keeping the public safe, eg, custody, reducing offending/reoffending, rehabilitation.... ultimately fewer victims. Currently we fail on all of these.