Police Officer who "made a bad decision" cleared of on duty rape

[Tennis]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39110005

A jury's decision to acquit a Canadian police officer of raping a woman after giving her a lift home has sparked uproar in a small coastal city.

Protesters gathered on Monday outside court in St John's, Newfoundland, to demand the constable be fired.

Pc Carl Douglas Snelgrove, 38, was cleared on Friday of raping a 21-year-old woman at her apartment while he was on duty on 21 December 2014.

After the verdict, demonstrators threw eggs and coffee at the court.

The married officer, who has served with Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for a decade, is expected to face disciplinary action.

On Monday, hundreds of protestors gathered again outside court, holding signs that said "We believe her" and "Let's talk about consent".

The prosecution had argued that the complainant was too drunk to consent to sex with the police officer, who was in uniform when he picked up her up outside a downtown bar.

The complainant said she was too intoxicated to recall if she consented to sex.

Upon the jury's not-guilty verdict, Mr Snelgrove broke into sobs, local media reported.

He was greeted by family, including his wife, and other supporters.

His lawyer, Randy Piercey, told the court his client was an "idiot who made a bad decision", but did not commit rape.

Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Mr Piercey said he was not surprised by the verdict, because the jury would have had to believe beyond reasonable doubt that the complainant was too drunk to consent, and that his client knew that.

During the trial, both the complainant and the officer agreed to certain facts about what happened that night, local media reported.

The accuser asked him for a ride home because she was lost.

The officer helped her break into her house because she could not find her key.

But then their stories diverged.

Mr Snelgrove said the woman had invited him into her apartment and initiated sex, and that she appeared cogent and clearheaded throughout the evening.


The jury heard testimony from a toxicologist who said the woman might have blacked out, which means she could have given consent and not remembered it.

Judge Valerie Marshall cautioned that "mere drunkenness" did not mean the complainant was incapable of consent.

During court proceedings, some readers were incensed when a local newspaper ran the headline "Too drunk to remember".

The paper later apologised.

RNC Chief William Janes told media that Mr Snelgrove has been suspended without pay since he was charged in June 2015.

Now that the trial is over, he faces possible further disciplinary action through the Public Complaints Commission process.

"I want to assure the public that we do not tolerate inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour by our officers and take complaints from the public very seriously," he said in a statement.

The prosecution has 30 days to appeal the verdict.

Should the prosecution appeal this? Whose side are you on?
Interesting how his wife stood by him despite what he did.

[Deleted]

Snivelgrove.

Oh sorry, I don't give any other fuck.

Infracted - Spam

[Deleted]

Why you think there's ground for an appeal?
Why should his wife not support him?

[Aeula]

What? No poll this time?

[Deleted]

Oh look, another 'he said, she said' story. How interesting...

A Jury of peers acquitted the guy, that should be the end of it. He fucked up by having extra-marital sex (while on duty!), but that shouldn't come into the equation during a rape trial.

[StayTuned]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39110005



Should the prosecution appeal this? Whose side are you on?
Interesting how his wife stood by him despite what he did.

I hope this question is a joke, right?

Is this Barca vs Real or something...??

[lonely zergling]

I'm on the side of justice. If in doubt always rule in favor of the accused.

No one knows what really happend apart from two people. One is lying. We dont know who.

[Total Crica]

Yet another story about a man using a woman's body for his own desires without caring if she was able to freely give him the go ahead. Continuous consent must not be a thing in that part of the world. Seems like it's about to be, though.

[Deleted]

I'm on the side of jury decision over mob feels.

His wife is quite forgiving though considering he had sex with another woman but sure.

[XDurionX]

Yeah, there is really nothing to judge here, he has his story, she has another one. How would we know what happened? Maybe she was unconscious, then it was rape. Maybe she said yes and fell asleep.

[Trollhammer]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39110005



Should the prosecution appeal this? Whose side are you on?
Interesting how his wife stood by him despite what he did.

On what grounds? Feels over reals?

[lonely zergling]

Yet another story about a man using a woman's body for his own desires.

How can you know that? Its equally possible that she used the mans body for her own desires too.

[Deleted]

Yet another story about a man using a woman's body for his own desires without caring if she was able to freely give him the go ahead. Continuous consent must not be a thing in that part of the world. Seems like it's about to be, though.

Yet another SJW apparently knowing more about a case than a Jury. Go on, keep digging.

[Nitro Fun]

Yet another SJW apparently knowing more about a case than a Jury. Go on, keep digging.

Juries are a flawed concept since they're so easily emotionally manipulated.

[Total Crica]

Yet another SJW apparently knowing more about a case than a Jury. Go on, keep digging.

I don't know anything, just going on what the story says. Nothing wrong with advocating for women's bodies not being used by others without continuous consent given by the woman.

[zephid]

Why you think there's ground for an appeal?
Why should his wife not support him?

Because even if she didn't think it was rape he still had sex with a another woman.

[AcidicSyn]

I'm with the other posters baffled by how supportive his wife is- that's the most mind-tickling element of this story to me.

Rape trial aside- he did just cheat on you.

[Deleted]

Juries are a flawed concept since they're so easily emotionally manipulated.

And I suppose you know of a better solution?

[Deleted]

Why you think there's ground for an appeal?
Why should his wife not support him?

"Mere drunkeness" is probably not part of any Canadian legislative formulation, thus it is based on a some kind assessment of the situation. This should be enough grounds for appeal, if the prosecution want to try out how the higher courts judge the line between being able to give consent and not being able to give consent.

Because he was cheating on her while he had sex with a (too?) drunk woman - that would definitely give some a reason to leave.

- - - Updated - - -

And I suppose you know of a better solution?

Yes. Let the judge decide.

[Glorious Leader]

Yeah, there is really nothing to judge here, he has his story, she has another one. How would we know what happened? Maybe she was unconscious, then it was rape. Maybe she said yes and fell asleep.

If she falls asleep during the act you should prolly stop.