To: Iwo Jima
When, as here, it is conceeded that sex occurred between the accuser and the accused, just what useful information do you believe that a rape kit can yield?She was checked for signs of assault in addition to the sexual contact evidence. Bruising, lacerations, blood, and so on. It has been said the girl was indeed bruised and clothes torn, but that's via the media and I'll wait for actual evidence to be presented to draw a conclusion.
To: cyncooper
But that's not part of a "rape kit," is it? Well, maybe blood, but not bruising, lacerations. I was just asking the other poster what they thought that a "rape kit" consisted of to make sure that my own understanding was correct.
Signs of minor trauma can be indicative of rape, but it can also occur during consensual sex, so that would not be evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. Clothes can be torn by a rapist and also by someone falsely accusing someone of rape -- say, in the 12 hours from the time the accuser left the accused and before she reported the rape to anyone.
You are right that we don't have a lot to go on at this point, but given what we know (or think that we knew), I would not bank on a guilty verdict. It just doesn't seem likely.
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