Its not a nitpick when the question being discussed is the propriety of a judicial ruling which is what you do in your post. It was not about “casual conversation”. And the fact that you insist upon using it (besides once again displaying your proclivity for jumping onto every trendy bandwagon, leaving your otherwise considerable sense behind) means that you are not discussing the issue in its proper context.
Also, rape (which he was not convicted for) is absolutely more reprehensible than assault; same way causing Grievous Bodily Harm is more reprehensible than simple battery despite both being very properly crimes, with the attendant differences in sanctions.