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<blockquote data-quote="MechaPilot" data-source="post: 6869240" data-attributes="member: 82779">I have to say that I agree with both of you.You are correct that such cases are very hard to prove where there are no witnesses and no lingering evidence of violence.&nbsp; You are likewise correct that most police and prosecutors will likely inform the victim that there is little to no chance of proving what happened in such cases, and that taking such a case to court will likely result in the victim being dragged through the mud and not receiving any legal satisfaction.However, I do think Celebrim is probably right that there will be a legally-unenforceable presumption that the man who picked up the female hitchhiker (particularly if she is young and/or attractive) had ill intent when he did so.&nbsp; That presumption won't really change the outcome of taking the case to trial, because of the lack of evidence, but it will likely result in both parties being dragged through the mud during the trial.&nbsp; Of course, given the costs of incarceration and prosecution, it's unlikely that the case would ever get to trial.There's also the fact that many victims of sexual assault don't report, or don't report right away, out of shame and/or embarrassment to themselves and/or their families.&nbsp; A victimized female hitchhiker who fails to report the crime for a couple days is certainly not going to get any legal satisfaction.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="MechaPilot, post: 6869240, member: 82779"] I have to say that I agree with both of you. You are correct that such cases are very hard to prove where there are no witnesses and no lingering evidence of violence. You are likewise correct that most police and prosecutors will likely inform the victim that there is little to no chance of proving what happened in such cases, and that taking such a case to court will likely result in the victim being dragged through the mud and not receiving any legal satisfaction. However, I do think Celebrim is probably right that there will be a legally-unenforceable presumption that the man who picked up the female hitchhiker (particularly if she is young and/or attractive) had ill intent when he did so. That presumption won't really change the outcome of taking the case to trial, because of the lack of evidence, but it will likely result in both parties being dragged through the mud during the trial. Of course, given the costs of incarceration and prosecution, it's unlikely that the case would ever get to trial. There's also the fact that many victims of sexual assault don't report, or don't report right away, out of shame and/or embarrassment to themselves and/or their families. A victimized female hitchhiker who fails to report the crime for a couple days is certainly not going to get any legal satisfaction. [/QUOTE]

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