5 wrongly accused of raping Hofstra student have no reason to whine

[devineone]

There are a lot of news stories flying back and forth about yet another false rape claim.  However, this one article offers a viewpoint worth reading IMO.

"Five who were wrongly accused of raping Hofstra student have no reason to whine"
Michael Daly
Sunday, September 20th 2009, 4:00 AM

If these five guys have no sense of shame they should at least shut up.

No young woman would consent to having sex with five guys in a bathroom unless she was seriously troubled.

Any guy with even a trace of gentleman would have told everyone to leave this 18-year-old Hofstra freshman alone, then walked her to her room and left her in the care of a female friend or roommate.

Instead, the five apparently went ahead and had sex with her, one after another after another after another after another.

One even videotaped it with his cell phone.

Then surprise! She turned out to be as troubled as they should have known her to be in the first place.

She told her boyfriend and then the police that she had been gang-raped. The police locked up four of the guys while the fifth quaked in fear of joining them before he finally came forward with the video that showed the sex was consensual.

The five were freed after getting the good scare that they well deserved.

Of course, that does not mean their behavior justified the woman's lies.

Her troubles are no excuse. She was beyond wrong, particularly because so many sex-crime cases hinge on the victim's credibility.

Confronted with DNA evidence, the accused often argue the sex was consensual.

The continuing danger posed by this woman's lies is that a juror in a real gang-rape case will remember what happened at Hofstra and decide maybe this victim is lying, too.

As a result of her lies, an actual rapist might someday walk free.

She should certainly be prosecuted for filing a false report.

But the fact that the five did not gang-rape the woman does not mean their behavior was anything but disgraceful.

They should be thankful there is nothing in the penal code against acting like a lowlife.

They are no longer behind bars, so they should stop squawking about having been falsely accused.

They should count themselves lucky she recanted.

They should not whine about how scared they were.

Most especially, they should not wail about their reputations being sullied.

One of them, Stalin Felipe, complained to one of the other newspapers, "Anytime anyone Googles my name, rape is going to be right there beside it. My name is tarnished."

He went on to fret that whenever he applies for a job, "I am always going to have to offer some explanation."

Well, Felipe, just tell them you and your four buddies did not really gang-rape the young woman, you only gangbanged her.

Better hope whoever reviews your employment application is not a woman.

You also might not fare too well with a guy who has a sister or a daughter.

I have two daughters. I do not for a minute think the five deserved to go away for a crime they did not commit. I also do not think that what they did do is even remotely acceptable.

Few women are so troubled as to behave like this Hofstra freshman, but many have moments when they are particularly vulnerable and perhaps liable to do things they otherwise might not.

Only a louse would take advantage of that.

For five to do so is a total disgrace.

If they did not understand she has psychological problems, they certainly should have.

They also should have known they were only compounding those problems, almost certainly doing terrible damage to an already shaky self-image.

It was not so much a matter of consent as descent.

These five may not be guilty, but that does not make them innocent.

They should stop their whimpering and apologize for acting like mutts

[Ndgo]

You know, this whole story rubs me the wrong way... but more importantly, it highlights a question of why the police went public so quickly with such little evidence. And yes, these young men totally dodged a bullet. They were all set up to go down. Of course, what they did was silly, and boarish.... but it wasn't criminal... so why and how did it make the newspapers and press so quickly?

And the girl, what do you think of her? I think that the author gives her far too much leeway by insinuating that she was besides herself or was obviously mentally ill or troubled. Well, ever since I can remember... there were always girls who wanted to take the short-cut to popularity by being very guy friendly... and those of the sort of girls that made it difficult for the girls that actually said no and meant it....

And heaven knows, I'm not even gonna state the obvious about how she set back REAL rape victims.... now I have no idea what this girls story is or was... but in light of what we do know didn't happen... I DO think we need to step back and let the chips fall as they may. Let's not be in such a hurry to convict anybody.

[devineone]

I DO think we need to step back and let the chips fall as they may. Let's not be in such a hurry to convict anybody.

You bring up some valid points Ndgo.  All I know is if I had a son and I found out he was running a train on a girl like these dudes were doing with this girl, whether by her consent or not, I would beat his azz to the ground, and I don't believe in  physically punishing kids. 

[Ndgo]

I agree, it would be a very bad day... lol

But I still wonder about the police investigation... and why they exploded the story without properly vetting the "victim" and her "tormentors".

I still think the woman should be charged with the crime the police KNOW she committed. I resent people who lie about sexual assaults. Their lies have real consequences for those that are truly accosted. And look at all the time she wasted because she was afraid the face the music to the song SHE herself wrote. What do we do with girls who are flinging their stuff at a revolving door of men willing to stick their nassy little hands in the candy jar. Is it too much to ask that she keep her legs closed to multiples of men? I dunno... It might be...

Parents need to stress to their kids that sex experiences something that they are not equipped to handle mentally or physically. What happened to the taboo against  engaging in intercourse without a ring, ceremony or a committment, at the very least? Kids hook up in multiples... no strings attached... it's not unusual either.... Why don't parents teach their kids the reasoning behind such taboos? Anyway....

Sad but what she did distracts from real victims...

Arrest After DNA Matches in Rapes in Manhattan
Michael Appleton for The New York Times


A 21-year-old man stopped for questioning and DNA testing last week in four rapes in Upper Manhattan was arrested Sunday night after his DNA matched evidence from all four attacks, the police said.

The suspect was identified as Vincent Heyward, 21, of 281 Edgecombe Avenue, just blocks from where the last sexual assault took place, on Sept. 7, said Paul J. Browne, the chief spokesman for the New York New YorkPolice Department.

“He fit the description to a ‘T’ ”, Mr. Browne said. He said Mr. Heyward surrendered peacefully on Sunday night after six hours of negotiations with a relative.

The arrest appeared to end the fear that has been stalking Upper Manhattan after the nighttime rapes of four women in little more than five weeks. Buildings and storefronts had been plastered with police sketches of the suspect in a dark hoodie. The Guardian Angels had stepped up neighborhood patrols. Tenants had organized community watch rallies.

Mr. Browne said that Mr. Heyward was stopped in the area on Tuesday about 12:30 a.m. by police officers because he resembled sketches of the rapist. “Yeah, that does look like me,” Mr. Heyward said, according to Mr. Browne, and volunteered to take a DNA test on the spot, swabbing his cheek himself to take a sample.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, the chief medical examiner reported that the sample matched evidence from all four rapes, and officers went to Mr. Heyward’s home, Mr. Browne said. He was not there but surrendered after the negotiations, he said.

[MsHeartBeat]

I have a different take on the Hofstra Rape and wrote about it in this article on The Examiner page.  Would welcome your comments.  Most of the men over there seem to believe that all women are sluts and whores and want to be raped and lie about being raped.  It would be nice to have some more middle of the road or sensible opinions.  I gave mine and my version of the events is nothing like what is posted around the Internet.

Five Freaks + a Female = The Hofstra University Rape Case

And the hell she should be prosecuted! For what? This makes her a double victim and again, the socialization of male supremacy is correct without even examining the issue from all sides.  I mean, they say it was consensual (what all rapists say), and have a videotape to "prove" her acquiescence (who wouldn't lay there and be still with 5 men threatening to beat your ass if you don't).  Get real people and think for a minute!

I lift weights and am very strong.  I throw around 65 and 75 lb dumbbells like they are nothing.  If I wanted to, I by myself could keep most women locked up in a bathroom.  Just me.  So what do you think five 200 lb dudes could do to one woman? 

I wish people would use their brains just a little bit more and analyze things deeper than what they see on the surface.

People forget that even if a woman was in agreement at first, any time, and I mean the SECOND she says "stop!" or "enough" or "I want to leave now!" and the men involved do not allow her to stop or leave, they are raping her.

[cool breeze]

Those guys need their azzes kicked..Twice..and then they should get their azzes kicked again..LOSERS..But they're lucky, because if I was that young lady's father those mofos would be DEAD..I would gladly do the time in jail--but I'd make sure that all five of them were toast..

I don't care if she agreed, I don't care if they got videotape on a cellphone--those mofos would be dead..Hell, just reading about the whole thing makes me wanna drive up there and beat the shyt out of them..If more people would beat the snot out of punks like those Hofstra students, the world would be a better place..

 

[cool breeze]

What do we do with girls who are flinging their stuff at a revolving door of men willing to stick their nassy little hands in the candy jar. Is it too much to ask that she keep her legs closed to multiples of men?

Parents need to stress to their kids that sex experiences something that they are not equipped to handle mentally or physically. What happened to the taboo against  engaging in intercourse without a ring, ceremony or a committment, at the very least? Kids hook up in multiples... no strings attached... it's not unusual either.... Why don't parents teach their kids the reasoning behind such taboos? Anyway.... 

Well, Ndgo, it's because too many parents themselves are out there "hooking up" with no strings attached..The kids are just imitating their parent's behavior..I heard a young cat talking about hearing his girlfriend's mother making love with some dude this past friday..I was like, "Man, what were you doing spending the night over there? I know your mom ain't down with that." He was like, "No, no.. I wasn't spending the night there. It was about four thirty in the afternoon, I guess and homie comes over and they went to the room and started doing it. We could hear them." So, if her daughter decides that she wants to get busy with her man in her room, what can the mother say? Do as I say and not as I do?

People with children need to act like grown ups--not some hot in the pants teenagers..At the very least, they need to be discreet..

[Ndgo]

I wish people would use their brains just a little bit more and analyze things deeper than what they see on the surface.

People forget that even if a woman was in agreement at first, any time, and I mean the SECOND she says "stop!" or "enough" or "I want to leave now!" and the men involved do not allow her to stop or leave, they are raping her.

I think the woman had the police and the prosecutors on her side, just chomping down on the bit..ready, willing and able to defend her honor and put these 5 hoodlums away for 25 to life ... UNTIL, that is... they saw the videotape. Whatever it was that they saw or heard on that tape, turned this case upside down in an instant. And when she was pressed with the knowledge that a tape that recorded the actual encounter existed, the woman recants... It wasn't a defense attorney's advocacy that gave these young men their freedom.... It was the prosecutors that doubted her story and sent her slinking back home to her Dad.

Now I can't say for sure what the deal was because I haven't seen the tape and don't even know what's on the tape... but whatever it was, just the mere mention of the tape alone was enough to get her to change her story. If it turns out that she lied about the nature of that encounter, I truly believe that she needs to be charged and prosecuted. Lies like this damage and victimize rape victims all over again and help set rapists free.

[devineone]

Those guys need their azzes kicked..Twice..and then they should get their azzes kicked again..LOSERS..But they're lucky, because if I was that young lady's father those mofos would be DEAD..I would gladly do the time in jail--but I'd make sure that all five of them were toast..

I don't care if she agreed, I don't care if they got videotape on a cellphone--those mofos would be dead..Hell, just reading about the whole thing makes me wanna drive up there and beat the shyt out of them..If more people would beat the snot out of punks like those Hofstra students, the world would be a better place..

As Steve Harvey would say, DIS Muthafuka would be dead!!  But to top it all off look at one of the gangbangers had the nerve to say after she recanted.  Check this out.

"Charges Dropped Against 4 Men Under Arrest; Search For 5th Called Off; DA, Hempstead School Release Statements"

"The four men, Hofstra student Rondell Bedward, 21, Stalin Felipe, 19, and Jesus L. Ortiz, 19, all of the Bronx; and Kevin R. Taveras, 20, of Brentwood, had been charged with five counts of first-degree rape. "

"Felipe said he's just relieved the entire ordeal is over.

"I'm actually very happy that the truth finally came out," Felipe said. "I'm blessed. My family is here right now to pick us up and I'd just like to thank everybody for your support out there. The truth is finally out.

"I prayed to God on the inside that everything would work out. I actually thought everything was going to go down bad. It feels so horrible when you are innocent and then you are going down like you are guilty.

When asked if he had any reaction to the fact that the woman lied about the incident, Felipe took the high road.

"Basically I have no hard feelings toward her. I don't know why she did it. I don't know her so I don't want to say anything bad about her," Felipe said. "I grew up in an all-women household. I have sisters. All my women are aunts. I respect women. I would never disrespect women, so being accused of that hurt me and my brother, you know? I'm just happy that everything is finally out in the open and we get to go home."

OMG!!! I don't want to even begin to go into the irony of this BS statement this Felipe guy is making, he respects women but has no qualms running a train on an 18 year old girl in a nasty bathroom at a frat party?   He prayed to God? He took the high road?  He feels blessed, he has no hard feelings against the girl?. Oh give me a break, how can this guy fix his mouth to say this shyt after what he did.  OMGoodness. I live in NYC,  Part of me wants to find this young lady and get 'her side of the story unbiased and everything, objectively, and without judgement.  Because these guys out here mouthing off need to be checked after they get beat down with a 2x4, old school style.   5 minutes or so of that videotape doesn't show the entire act.  I'm sure it took longer than 5 minutes to gangbang 5 men.

[Ndgo]

All I can say is that these are different times. There are more than a few women out there that do things I would never dream of doing nor could never imagine a woman doing.

In our society, all you have to do is make an accusation about a hot button issue... like child molestation or rape. People see red.... when things are really shades of gray.

I do believe however that IF she lied about the encounter for whatever reason, she should be held accountable.  Lies like these do double harm to real victims because it raises doubts in people's minds about vetted accusations.

I wish the police had been more even-handed in their initial investigating before this hit the press.  My guess is that whatever happened would have been a non-story.