Fallout from Duke for rape victims

[jebbypal]

Santa Clara DA refuses to prosecute rape case despite witnesses and DNA

The rape occurred March 3 at a wild, off-campus party hosted by a member of the DeAnza College men's baseball team in San Jose, California. Three partygoers, members of the school's women's soccer team, said they saw a young girl on a mattress on the floor, clothes around her ankles and vomit on her face, with one man on top of her and approximately 10 more looking on in a dark bedroom. Feeling "something wasn't right," the girls pushed their way into the room and rushed the victim the the hospital.

In the months since the rape, a grand jury has taken testimony in the case, DNA samples from some partygoers have been obtained, yet an assistant district attorney cited "insufficient evidence" as the reason the DA would not prosecute. The alleged rapists will not even be charged with a crime, not even statutory rape. The only consequences so far have been that eight baseball players were suspended, resulting in the cancellation of three games. At least one of the possible rapists thinks justice has been served: "From the beginning, I kind of felt like it was a witch hunt and the De Anza players were victims, and not really this girl," pitcher Chris Knopf told the San Jose Mercury News

I hope that whoever hosted the party is experiencing some problems for underage drinking at the event. And I hope the suspension from the baseball team sticks -- it's not much (and with luck, the sheriff might be able to push through some other charges), but it's something.

Finally - booyah to the women who rushed to the girl's aid and continue to speak out on her behalf. We need more sisters like you everywhere.