News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Julian Assange 'disappointed' as sex assault case dropped by afarrell on Thursday August 13, 2015 @11:20AM (#10054865)
No, you need two things: the intent* and the act. If the act of watering your lawn isn't an element of any crime, then you're fine.

If the victim says that the accused did X, Y, and then Z, that is a statement of fact about what happened. If the victim then says that he doesn't think that X, Y, and Z constitute a crime, that is a statement about the law..which might just be incorrect.

* except for strict liability crimes like speeding

Re:Julian Assange 'disappointed' as sex assault case dropped by thekingofspain on Thursday August 13, 2015 @11:52AM (#10055085)
The thing about rape is that the intent and the act are very much intertwined with the victim's feelings of it. If the victim does not appreciate whatever is going on, the onus is on the perpetrator to realize that and stop. Failure to do so is "the act" and the intent is.. well, the state of mind where you do not choose to find out/acquiesce to the other person's desires.

However, if the "victim" says there was no rape, and has never said so, then the whole premise, including both the intent and the act, is unseated.

Disclaimer: I am no lawyer, and do not know much about this specific case. These are just my intuitions about rape laws. I also believe that if the laws, in fact, are much different from these ideas in spirit, they are SORELY off-base.

Re:Julian Assange 'disappointed' as sex assault case dropped by CHY872 on Thursday August 13, 2015 @08:30PM (#10057998)
In this case, the alleged victim when interviewed described events that could certainly constitute rape - for example waking up and finding Assange having unprotected sex with her.
Re:Julian Assange 'disappointed' as sex assault case dropped by talmand on Friday August 14, 2015 @01:02PM (#10061258)
I understand what you are saying.

I am simply saying that in a criminal case if the only evidence presented is the accusation of the prosecution, especially if the supposed victim proclaims they are not a victim of the alleged crime, then I will find it hard to convict if I'm on that jury. Regardless of what the law says or the alleged intent of the accused.

In cases that any law can provide a conviction with no evidence other than an accusation from the state then that's an extremely bad law and should be stricken.