Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
The father of a woman who killed herself days before being put on trial for an allegation of making a false rape claim says he has been "let down terribly" by the British justice system.
Mirror reports that his daughter Eleanor de Freitas, 23, made an allegation of rape in January 2013 but although a man was arrested no case was brought against him.
That man subsequently brought a private prosecution against Miss de Freitas in April this year but - terrified of facing the trial - she took her own life days before the court case opened.
Police believed her allegation of rape to be genuine but a case could not be brought because of a lack of evidence due to the gap in time between the alleged rape and her reporting of it.
David de Freitas said his daughter, who suffered from bipolar disorder, was frightened of being sectioned under the Mental Health Act if convicted.
"(She was) a vulnerable young woman who made a complaint of rape," he said.
"As a result of which, she herself became the subject of legal proceedings.
"This was despite the fact the police did not believe there to be a case against her.
There are very serious implications for the reporting of rape cases if victims fear that they may themselves end up the subject of a prosecution if their evidence is in any way inconsistent.
"It is of the utmost importance that the CPS consider very carefully whether such cases are in the public interest."
"The system of fairness in this country has let me down terribly."
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, who is personally investigating the case, said she was "very saddened" by the Miss de Freitas' death, and has asked all those who worked on the case for a "full explanation".
Ms Saunders described the case - which began when the Metropolitan Police received an allegation of rape in south west London on January 4, 2013 - as "one of the most difficult I have seen".
"The allegation was investigated by specialist officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.
"One man was arrested but subsequently released with no further action due to lack of evidence, and the case was closed."
There are very serious implications for the reporting of rape cases if victims fear that they may themselves end up the subject of a prosecution if their evidence is in any way inconsistent.
"It is of the utmost importance that the CPS consider very carefully whether such cases are in the public interest."
"The system of fairness in this country has let me down terribly."
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, who is personally investigating the case, said she was "very saddened" by the Miss de Freitas' death, and has asked all those who worked on the case for a "full explanation".
Ms Saunders described the case - which began when the Metropolitan Police received an allegation of rape in south west London on January 4, 2013 - as "one of the most difficult I have seen".
"The allegation was investigated by specialist officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.
"One man was arrested but subsequently released with no further action due to lack of evidence, and the case was closed."
http://www.nepicity.com/feeds/posts/default