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Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

bbc.com

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Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#11

Post by cmrdporcupine »

lettergram wrote: post #5
ivl wrote: post #2

> "The reason for this decision is that the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question." I'm not sure I understand what's meant by this. Did the victims testimony change? How does evidence weaken over time?

If I recall the evidence was always pretty weak. I don’t have time to find the news article from back then, but it was “sexual assault” because he didn’t wear a condom and at the time the woman (perhaps plural) didn’t want to really participate. Could be wrong though... Does anyone have some news from back then?

"didn't really want to participate" is basically the definition of sexual assault.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#13

Post by Shihan »

ceejayoz wrote: post #3
ivl wrote: post #2

> "The reason for this decision is that the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question." I'm not sure I understand what's meant by this. Did the victims testimony change? How does evidence weaken over time?

Memory weakens over time, and the case would've largely hinged on memory-based testimony.

Yeah, but the testimony was surely recorded already some years ago? Or did they just wait.. I doubt so.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#14

Post by zaroth »

ivl wrote: post #2

> "The reason for this decision is that the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question." I'm not sure I understand what's meant by this. Did the victims testimony change? How does evidence weaken over time?

I don't think there's any reason to believe the prosecutor is going to tell the BBC the full story behind the decision making for dropping the case, versus a sound bite that seems reasonable.

If they had obtained internal first-person memos discussion the reasons for dropping the case, then you could probably assume those would be credible.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#15

Post by injb »

ivl wrote: post #2

> "The reason for this decision is that the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question." I'm not sure I understand what's meant by this. Did the victims testimony change? How does evidence weaken over time?

He's now safely in police custody and the US has already revealed its plans to extradite him, so there's no longer any need for the charges in Sweden. That's what's meant by this, imo.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#17

Post by ceejayoz »

Shihan wrote: post #13
ceejayoz wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Memory weakens over time, and the case would've largely hinged on memory-based testimony.

Yeah, but the testimony was surely recorded already some years ago? Or did they just wait.. I doubt so.

If admissible, there'd still be the opportunity for cross examination. Any competent defense attorney should be able to easily impeach ten year old testimony by eliciting a whole bunch of "I don't remember" responses.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#19

Post by ceejayoz »

criley2 wrote: post #16

[flagged]

Assange isn't a great example of someone escaping justice (or "the arm of the law", if you'd prefer).

He spent years in a prison-like environment, and is now in prison for skipping out on bail - he's been in jail-like conditions far longer than the original crime would've incurred. He's likely to wind up in US hands later on, too.

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