Mind you, the lone reason I craft this pitting is to give “Doper” Ellis Dee a proper platform to demonstrate his ignorance, since he seems anxious to do so, but in the wrong places—hijacking at least two other threads.
ED Claims the prosecutor in the Ben Roethlisberger alleged rape case in Georgia would have prosecuted the case, even though he admittedly had no forensic evidence, if the “victim” agreed to testify.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13432110&postcount=50
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee]
The only reason Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t prosecuted for rape is because the victim decided not to cooperate at the last minute so the DA had to drop the case. If that’s the kind of thing you like to root for, root for the Steelers.
[/QUOTE]
Original Thread:
post:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13420734&postcount=21
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee]
Ben is also guilty; the only reason he wasn’t tried was because the victim changed her mind and decided not to cooperate.
[/QUOTE]
Here, ED clearly states that the “only reason” [Ben Rothlisberger] “wasn’t tried” [for rape] was because the D.A. lacked the testimony of the alleged victim.
I respond to his (incorrect) presumption with facts:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13420781&postcount=22
[QUOTE=Me]
That she decided not to cooperate was incidental. The real reason [Roethlisberger] wasn’t tried is An emergency-room doctor and two nurses examined her and noted in their report a “superficial laceration and bruising and slight bleeding in the genital area”, but could not say if trauma or sexual assault was the cause; A rape kit was collected, but no semen was recovered, and the amount of male DNA found was insufficient to create a profile or establish that an assault had taken place; The doctor’s report also quoted the alleged victim telling them that, “A boy kind of raped me;” district attorney Fred Bright held a press conference to announce that Roethlisberger would not be charged. Bright said “…looking at all the evidence here, I can not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
[/QUOTE]
Doubting the Wiki article (though it contained indisputable facts), ED posted a link (in three parts) to the press conference the D.A. hosted:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13423263&postcount=47
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee]
You guys arguing that Ben is innocent, did you even watch the DA’s press conference or are you just talking out of your ass with nothing more than wiki cites to back you up? Here’s a clue: Steelers fans can edit wiki pages too.
In that press conference, the DA made it crystal clear he thought Ben was guilty, but he couldn’t convince 12 jurors beyond a reasonable doubt without the victim’s testimony.
Press conference:
Part 1 (13:42)
Part 2 (12:38)
Part 3 (11:40)
[/QUOTE]
Note his question “…did you even watch the DA’s press conference or are you just talking out of your ass with nothing more than wiki [sic] sites to back you up?”
So now we must course the DA’s press conference to determine what the hell ED is on about.
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
The sexual allegation against Mr. Roethlisberger cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
Everyone agrees that the victim was highly intoxicated due to consuming alcohol.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
Almost four weeks ago, in a letter to me, dated March 17, 2010, the victims lawyer advised me that the victim did not want to prosecute this matter further (as if “victims” determine whether crimes are prosecuted), and explained her reasons in a letter that is available to you today.
[/QUOTE]
*emphasis added
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
And if I were on the jury, I’d say nice try Mr. Prosecutor, but based on this evidence, even without that letter, you didn’t prove the crime of rape beyond a reasonable doubt.
[/QUOTE]
*emphasis added
[QUOTE=reporter]
What about probable cause?
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
Looking at all the evidence here, we don’t even have probable cause.
[/QUOTE]
Ok, nothing there; let’s review part 2:
http://www.wtae.com/r-video/23127501/detail.html
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
In the words of the first officer, to whom the outcry (alleged victims outcry of rape), his initial incident report, he said…quote “it is unclear as to what happened due to the complainants recollection being foggy from her intoxication level.”
[/QUOTE]
Ok, still nothing to support ED’s position that the D.A. would have prosecuted this case if the “victim” had not written a letter telling him not to. In fact, all evidence to this point counters ED’s belief, and belief it is. But maybe the third part will vindicate ED:
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
That’s one fact that’s been agreed to by everybody in this case; the “victim” was ext…(stops short of saying extremely?), was very intoxicated.
[/QUOTE]
Now I’m going to interject here after ED made the following post
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13433209&postcount=57
in response to this post of mine:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13424458&postcount=57
I said (highlighted):
[QUOTE=Me]
Fred Bright: “Let me make this perfectly clear: it made it, as a prosecutor, yes it made it easier. But had she not written, taken that position, the victim [alleged] , her family, and her lawyers, that they did not want us to prosecute the matter at all. And they made it crystal clear in the letter. An honest answer is I would still be announcing the same result.” (no prosecution).
[/QUOTE]
and he responded (highlighted):
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee]
And I like how the Steelers sycophants stuck their own [alleged] commentary in the quote when the DA said no such thing. He repeatedly referenced the victim. You’ll note that the DA who took over the Duke Lacrosse case never called the accuser a victim, he called her the accuser. Big difference.
[/QUOTE]
Of course, I was correctly identifying the woman as an alleged victim when the D.A. consistently referred to her as an actual victim. He even admits as much in the third part:
[QUOTE=Fred Bright, D.A.]
Probably the best way for me to describe it would be alleged victim; and I could keep saying alleged every time before I say her name, but for brevity sake I say victim. The best way for me to say it would be purported or alleged victim. I think that’s the fairest way of saying it.
[/QUOTE]
I guess the D.A. is a “Steeler sycophant.”
All three parts of the press conference which ED used to prove that the D.A. would have prosecuted the case of rape had the “victim” agreed to testify actually prove the contrary. In fairness, though, I’d like to give him a chance to produce one quotation from that press conference–or other source–which indicates the D.A. would have prosecuted but for the “victim’s” refusal to testify. He can’t of course, and instead of saving face by admitting so, he bluntly presses ahead:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13436712#post13436712
[QUOTE=Airman Doors]
How many times are you going to perpetuate that lie? You were already proven wrong in another thread, but here you go again. Might as well hijack another thread with your nonsense, right? You’ve only tried twice so far.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee]
No such thing was proven.
[/QUOTE]
Here’s your chance, Ellis Dee, to prove yourself correct without the stigma of a hijack. You’ll not have to beg out of this thread for that reason.
And, btw, I should pit you again for making me give the appearance I’m defending Roethlisberger. I’m not; I’m just defending logic against your ignorant assault on American jurisprudence.