Re: Bad idea: Punishing false accusers

Ann wrote:
> On 25 Nov 2003 07:22:50 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rich) wrote:
>
>
> > Alan Mackenzie<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> >
> > > Rich <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on Mon, 24 Nov 2003
> > > 02:00:32 GMT:
> > >
> > > Hi, Rich, how's life?
> >
> > Busy. Hows with you?
> >
> >
> > > > On 23 Nov 2003 16:36:56 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Waldo Weaver)
> > > > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Many TR regulars don't even think that they [false rape allegations]
> > > > should be specifically against the law, and that a man so accused is
> > > > not a victim. This kind of sentiment certainly is not helpful.
> > >
> > > Let me clarify what TR regulars have typically and repeatedly maintained
> > > in discussion, sometimes lengthy, with Rich:  Malicious FRA's should
> > > indeed be punished; Non-malicious ones shouldn't; the standard of proof
> > > required to prosecute a malicious false allegation should be the same as
> > > for any other crime, namely proof beyond reasonable doubt;  
> >
> > This is blatantly idiotic. It is near impossible to prove malice and
> > you lot know it. You want to make false rape accusations safe for women
> > and impossible to prosecute for totally irrelevant reasons.
>
>
> I take malice to mean that the person falsely accuses another
> purposely.  There are cases where someone accuses the wrong person by
> accident.  They really do believe that the person was guilty but they
> are wrong.  They might pick the wrong person out of a line up, that is
> a mistake and not malicious.  
>
> Ann

Accusing someone of a serious crime is malicious.  Unless they are damn 
sure they are accusing the right man they are criminal malicious. 
Falsely accusing a wrong man because they randomly picked out some one 
man from a group of men is at least as malicious as any other kind of 
false accusation.

Maliciously accusing the wrong man of rape or any other crime is a 
criminal mistake, and ought to be strongly punished.

Bob