During trial, alleged victim said she made up the rape story
Last September, a fourteen year old girl accused three minors of rape but today she confessed in the Orange Walk Supreme Court that her very serious allegations were all lies. A seventeen year old was charged with Rape while his sixteen year old brother and seventeen year old cousin were charged with Abetment to Rape after the report. Today, after more than a year, the accused youths were acquitted of charges. The young girl had claimed that on September fourteenth, 2009, she was picking sea grapes in Progresso Village when she met the two of the boys on the river bank and the other was swimming. She claimed two of them touched her inappropriately and then held her down while the third accused came out of the water and raped her. In trial the youths, who were all high school students at the time, admitted to meeting the alleged victim at the river but denied any abuse. In cross examination, the teenage girl recanted her story and said she made it up because she was afraid. She did not, however, say what she was afraid of. The jury deliberated for two hours before announcing a unanimous verdict of not guilty against the three minors.
Another case of witness intimidation?
When these young ladies fabricates these stories once it is confirmed it is a lie, we should name and shame them to warn off other men. These type of women enjoy anonymity while they could tarnish a young man character, because even though she now claims it was all a lie, there will still be those in their community pointing fingers.
Now can I suggest that the family of this girl pay for the court’s expenses, and retribution to the boys. We need to protect young women who genuinely come forward to report rapes and make sure she is believed and gets justice, not these one time wasters.
I think that if the situation is that since she lied, then charges should also be brought against her.
How easy it is for women to lie and accuse men of these things then just freely walk with no penalties.
She and her family have been intimidated…plain and simple…..
The fact is we will never know whether she has been intimidated. We will never know whether she is telling the truth that she lied; no pun intended. But such things show how vulnerable men are because who is likely to be believed when a woman makes an accusation of rape. What I suggest to all men out there is to do what Dave Chapelle said in one of his shows. M”Make sure she signs an agreement stating that she is agreeing to consensual sex. Make sure she signs one for every round and if possible get a witness to sign the contract. This sounds ridiculous, but hey, what more can a man do to protect himself from being found guilty by a jury of his peers when a false allegation is made.
I am not saying that all or that most rape victims lie. I am pointing out that there is a small risk. When this risk materializes the consequences are too great and even torturing on the falsely accused.
Thanks Oscar965. Donny, witness intimidation is prevalent & has gone on in Belize for years. In addition, the girl was 14 & our culture is quick to label girls & women rude even when they are not at fault. A young woman with a less than stellar reputation’s options are limited in our country. It is not the same for men. There is nothing funny about having a best friend whose nickname is rapist or something similar & explaining with a smile on your face that he earned that name because he does not take “no” for an answer. If these young men are guilty & their parents are aware of it, get help while they are still young because they will do it again. We have to teach our sons to respect women & our daughters to respect their bodies.
Guys no woman should be held against their will and you should learn how to treat a woman nice! If you cannot talk your way into “some” then you should get none! Also think and remember that life will never be fair for us guys! Any female can accuse us of rape and we are arrested and charged. “Justice” is never as swift when the table is turned the other way.
Has anyone wondered why she was there alone? Females do not go to places alone if it is not for an encounter. For crying out loud girls do not even like going to the washroom alone at a party! She may have gone there for a romantic evening with one guy but turned out not the way she was expecting it.
If intimidation is the problem then they should have these cases tried in a more timely manner to reduce the chances of the victim’s family being intimidated.
There are people in Belize who will always blame the female, in whole or in part, for what ever crime is committed against her. If she gets beaten its because she “pushed her man’s buttons”. If she gets raped, it because she “was too provocative” or is “too fast”. So in a society where simply being a victim can bring shame and stigma upon yourself, why would a 14 year old girl lie about getting raped? It doesn’t seem plausible to me that she would put herself through this type of ordeal just for the sake of creating mischief.
Also remember simply accusing someone of a crime does not automatically result in the matter going to trial. The police must gather evidence and the DPP must decide that evidence is sufficient to proceed with charges.
Sounds like she is crying wolf, or maybe she and her family was intimidated, or maybe they got paid off for her to change her story. Seen it happen many times.
BT- I believe, that the police must gather enough evidence. I do not think that the 14 year old girl change the story. “what if the court did?” Or what id they 3 guys threathen her? Or what if she was afraid? did the court had medical proof? It is not the first time that the rapist walks out free. what is the 3 guys background? If they are going to high school? How they behave at school. It has always happen here in Belize, and not only rapist are set free , but also people that commit murder are also set free.
Our system is a total mess, it`s who you know… and also $ plays a big role…
The police department should further investigate this case…. and get enough evidence……. if they commited the rape they should pay…….. If they did commit the rape, they will do it again….
Bottom line here – God knows and he will deal with it. he will make justice…