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Sunday Star Times
December 15, 1996
Rape and allegations
Letter
to the Editor
by G Waugh, Auckland
Sandra Coney writes much nonsense but excelled herself with her absurd
remarks about rape and Justice Thomas' opinion (December 8). They appear to
believe that making false allegations is an "enduring and pernicious
myth".
Of course women make false allegations of rape. And when they do, they are
rightly accused of "lying, scheming and manipulating". Remember
Nick Wills and many others in similar predicaments?
The "recent complaint" rule is a fair one. Complaints promptly made
allow forensic evidence, if it exists, to be gathered. Significant delays can
limit its value and accuracy. If the delay is weeks, months or years, how, in
the absence of valid collaboration, can a woman expect to be believed? Like
everyone else, she has to demonstrate her credibility.
In the 1986 to '95 decade, 52% of rape trials failed to convict the accused.
Evidence was either unreliable, inadequate or false. The Chief Justice
recently said of rape cases that an uneasy feeling remains that innocent men
may have been convicted.
If rape allegations were investigated like other criminal cases, there would
be fewer rape trials. "Balanced, objective analysis" would serve
society better than Coney's Claptrap or Thomas' Tirade.
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