You Are a Juror on a Rape Trial…

Who Would You Believe?

Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual assault / rape.

Carla

I was at home cleaning my house — a major cleaning that I do once or twice a year. I had Maroon 5 playing loudly. I always do when I’m cleaning. It was about 3:20. It was a really nice day and I was planning to meet my sister and a couple of friends for a drink around 5. I was just about to finish and then take a shower. As I turned the music down I heard a knock on the door. It was louder than a usual knock so I thought maybe it was UPS or a delivery. I went to the door and opened it a crack. When I did a man was standing just outside. He looked very weird like he was hiding something. He was wearing sunglasses and so I thought that was kind of weird because the entry way is fairly dark even in the middle of the day. It registered but I let it go. When I asked if I could help him he said he car broke down — a block away, he pointed towards the road. He wanted to use my phone. I felt suspicious because in a few quick thoughts I figured he should have asked someone closer to his car — I didn’t see a car outside. And, I thought t was weird that he didn’t have a phone. I said no quickly and closed the door. I turned the lock. I felt stupid but I kind of snuck to the living room window and watched. I didn’t see him but figured he must have walked out of sight before I looked out. I sat with my heart beating. I quickly told myself not to worry and that I was just scaring myself and thinking about TV shows or newspaper stories. I looked at my phone and it was 4:00. I had been standing there looking out for 20 minutes and didn’t even realize it. I texted my sister and told her about the guy. “some creepy guy just came to the door. I’m freaked out.” She texted back. “I’m coming over.” knowing she was coming over I decided to get dressed, skip the shower. I went back into my room and started to get dressed. She didn’t live far and I knew she’d be there in a few minutes. I put on a summer dress and some make up. I was just about to walk into the kitchen to get a glass of wine and at first I didn’t believe my eyes. The same man was standing in the middle of my living room. I could see he had been about to walk into the bedroom where I had been. He still had on the sunglasses and a heavy jacket. He was wearing gloves.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him. I started to turn to run but I saw him coming closer.

“Don’t freak out.” He said.

“What the fuck are you doing here. Get out or I’m calling the police.”

In a second he’d rushed towards me and pushed me against the wall. He had a knife and it was close to my cheek.

“Go in the bedroom.” he demanded.

I told my my sister was about to arrive. I told him she’d call the police.

He just told me to get in the bedroom.

I started crying and tried to push my way. By that time he’d pushed me into the bedroom and was blocking the door.

At this point he instructed me to go to the bed and he raped me.

It was a very short time and I don’t remember him leaving. I just remember my phone ringing and chiming with texts. It was my sister. She said she had been trying to reach me for half an hour. She was about to call the police.

I let her into the house and we called 911. The police and EMTs arrived and took me to the hospital. I underwent a rape kit exam which took 3 hours. Afterwards I went home to my sister’s house. I ended up moving in with her and never stayed another night at my apartment. The police told me that I’d left a sliding door open in the spare room. I must have shaken out some rugs or come in and out while I was cleaning. The police conducted an investigation. After three months I was called with a positive identification through DNA. The man was charged and released on bail. I was told he had a rap sheet with other sexual assault charges and several drug charges.

Ed

It was a Friday night after last call. There was a girl named Carla, there at the club by herself. She said she was wasted and her friends had left. She seemed interested in me and we started making out at the bar. I could tell she was really drunk and I asked her over and over if she really wanted to be doing this. She got even more touchy and so we went out to my car. We had sex and she passed out in my car for a while. When she woke up she seemed ok that we had gotten together. I asked her if I could bring her home or if she wanted to sleep it off at my apartment. She said she wanted to go home. She started kissing me again and before we headed back she asked me if I wanted to get together again. I said sure. I asked her if she’d even remember tomorrow. She laughed and said she would. Before I dropped her off she told me she had taken tranquilizers and also had a lot to drink. She somehow lost track of her friends. I asked her for her number and she said I could just pick her up at her place the next day around 5. We could have a “real date” like dinner or there was a fair she said she wanted to go to on the waterfront. The next day I came by her place and she was half dressed when I got there. I was standing in the door and I asked her “ready to go.” She invited me in for a glass of wine before we went out. I could tell she had already been drinking. She said she had taken some pills. We started making out again and then went into her bedroom. After we had sex she asked if I had a girlfriend. I told her I did but things weren’t going so well. Something pissed her off and she started screaming. I thought it was the girlfriend and I told her to calm down. I think she must have been drunker than I thought or maybe mentally ill. She started pushing me and telling me to get the fuck out. That I’d raped her. I told her to calm down. I was freaking out because I had already been in trouble with the police for some stupid behavior when I was a teenage. Her phone started beeping and she said it was her sister. She texted something and gave me the phone. when I looked at it she had said “A creepy guy just came to the door. I’m freaked out.” I said what the fuck?” I ran out of the apartment and went back home. Two months later the police showed up at my door and arrested me for rape.

The Evidence

Ed’s DNA on Carla, her clothes, and bedding
Ed’s history of sexual assault arrests and drug related charges. One conviction of forcible rape

Carla’s texts to her sister
Carla’s prescriptions for tranquilizers and antidepressants for anxiety and depression
Testimony from Carla’s friends that she sometimes drinks too much and parties a lot

Carla’s testimony that she had been at home the night before. No witnesses to corroborate Ed’s claim that they’d met up at a club. No witnesses at the club or during the time Ed claimed they’d hooked up

Ed’s testimony refuting that he had a knife or gloves

Testimony from Ed’s girlfriend that he’s never been violent or drinks too much

What’s your verdict? Do you need more information on the case — if so what would help you decide?