should a lawyer accused of rape be allowed to x-examine the plaintiff?
By teleios
@teleios (737)
Philippines
June 13, 2007 8:43pm CST
still watching special victims unit, and they're allowing one of the defendants, who is a lawyer, to cross-examine the plaintiff, the guy that she allegedly raped. this is an intimidation tactic in its most obvious form! i'm feeling so sorry for the victim right now.
2 people like this
3 responses
@godhunter_18 (106)
• Philippines
15 Jun 07
yeah. it's legal. it's the defendant's right to defend himself, or hire legal counsel. otherwise, the state will provide him with one.
it's in the constitution.
and it's a human right.
are you filipino? if you are, remember the time when marcos was alleged of murder?
he represented himself.
but yeah, it is sad, that the alleged rapist would defend himself. reminds me of the movie the devil's advocate.
it is an indirect way of intimidation. but that is his right as a defendant.
@teleios (737)
• Philippines
14 Jun 07
me too, i was surprised to see the judge allowing the defendant to cross-examine the plaintiff. i think it helped that the defendant was a high profile lawyer, that's why she was allowed to do it, but i just felt sorry for the guy plaintiff. i felt like he was the one being prosecuted because he was a guy!
2 people like this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
17 Jun 07
I'm amazed that a courtroom judge would allow such a thing. You are right. It is intimidation.
Of course, similar things happen to female rape victims when a male attorney cross examines in an intiminating way. But since the attorney is not the accused rapist people don't see it from her perspective of being overpowered by a man.
@teleios (737)
• Philippines
18 Jun 07
its a legal thing, although looking at it from the point of the plaintiff, its really something that he'she can do without right? but yeah, it is a legal right to defend one's self. what makes this case worse is that the defendant is already a lawyer ;(
