Woman who lied about rape asks for 'bygones to be bygones'

[Skullheadhq]

A Los Angeles teenager convicted of rape in 2002 has been cleared after his "victim" admitted lying.

Brian Banks was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping Wanetta Gibson when he was 16 years-old. He entered a 'no contest plea' and served five years.

Soon after he was released in 2007, Ms Gibson contacted him on facebook with the words "let bygones be bygones". She admitted he was innocent but was concerned she would have to pay back the $1.5m the school gave her in damages at the time.

Mr Banks agreed to meet her and videotaped her with the help of the California Innocence Project.

He gave BBC Radio 5 live Up All Night's Rhod Sharp his first international interview along with his lawyer Justin Brooks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18266118

What an evil world we live in

[Greyblades]

There's a jackass born every minute.

[Fragony]

She was 16 at the time if you aren't stupid at that age there is something seriously wrong with you. And she is sorry and wants to set things right. Blame the vultures who make a living with this kind of things instead.

[Skullheadhq]

She was 16 at the time if you aren't stupid at that age there is something seriously wrong with you. And she is sorry and wants to set things right. Blame the vultures who make a living with this kind of things instead.

When she was 20 that guy was still in jail for something he didn't do and she said nothing because she didn't want to return the 1.5 million.

In fact, the guy still has a criminal record and the woman doesn't want to set it straight because she could lose the cash she stole from the education system.

[The Stranger]

She was 16 at the time if you aren't stupid at that age there is something seriously wrong with you. And she is sorry and wants to set things right. Blame the vultures who make a living with this kind of things instead.

...:O

[Sarmatian]

What can happen to her now? Will she be charged and hopefully go to prison?

She was 16 at the time if you aren't stupid at that age there is something seriously wrong with you. And she is sorry and wants to set things right. Blame the vultures who make a living with this kind of things instead.

You're sorry when you accidentally step on someone's foot.

In this case, you're a criminal.

[rajpoot]

I really hope the girl does not get away with this. That guy lost five of the prime years of his life.

[Fragony]

When she was 20 that guy was still in jail for something he didn't do and she said nothing because she didn't want to return the 1.5 million.

In fact, the guy still has a criminal record and the woman doesn't want to set it straight because she could lose the cash she stole from the education system.

I wouldn't be angry at her, she made a mistake. It's very hard to steer a tanker once it has a route. Speaks volumes for her that she wants to put it right. It's basicly child-abuse.

[rajpoot]

I wouldn't be angry at her, she made a mistake. It's very hard to steer a tanker once it has a route. Speaks volumes for her that she wants to put it right. It's basicly child-abuse.

Actually the way I see it putting it right would be to return the money and apologise to the guy publicly. Asking him to let bygones be bygones does not make it seem as though she's feeling sorry for her 'mistake'.

[Greyblades]

Pity she probably doesnt have the money any more.

[Skullheadhq]

Actually the way I see it putting it right would be to return the money and apologise to the guy publicly. Asking him to let bygones be bygones does not make it seem as though she's feeling sorry for her 'mistake'.

I say we put the woman in jail and don't let her out until she repaid the 1.5m.

Pity she probably doesnt have the money any more.

This, she is now on welfare since she blew it all.

[Montmorency]

Yes, this is unacceptable, there must be justice, etc. etc.

[rajpoot]

I say we put the woman in jail and don't let her out until she repaid the 1.5m.

That's likely be quite a while longer than five years I think.

[johnhughthom]

The problem with punishing this woman and saying she should be put in prison, is that it could act as a deterrent for other girls who have been raped to come forward. If a woman is raped and thinking about going to the police, reading about cases where a woman was charged with a false accusation and imprisoned could frighten them in to keeping quiet in fear, the rapist might even use such stories to try to ensure she doesn't come forward.

Some people will say that a genuine rape victim will have no risk of charges being brought against them, whether or not that is true, they are unlikely to be in a frame of mind to make such rational decisions at the time, a remote possibility could quite easily seem a certainty after such a traumatic experience.

Having said that, the idea of someone falsely accusing another of rape is something I find repulsive, it really does ruin the other person's life, purely out of spite. I would love to see such cases dealt with by malicious fake rape claims being given the same sentence the accused rapist would have received. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

When she was 20 that guy was still in jail for something he didn't do and she said nothing because she didn't want to return the 1.5 million.

In fact, the guy still has a criminal record and the woman doesn't want to set it straight because she could lose the cash she stole from the education system.

He didn't contest the charges - his lawyer should be going to gaol. The girl? Yes, she should be punished but I can see Frag's point, once the wheels start moving she would find herself rapidly in a situation where she would be behind bars if she admitted the truth.

Personally - I am hardly surprised, the only reason this came to light is that she felt enough remorse to want to apolagise. The fact that she appears to have no idea what she did to this guy, I just don't know what to think about that.

[Fragony]

Actually the way I see it putting it right would be to return the money and apologise to the guy publicly. Asking him to let bygones be bygones does not make it seem as though she's feeling sorry for her 'mistake'.

She admits he didn't do it, would you be angry at someone who wronged you at the age of sixteen. I almost killed somoene when I was sixteen I stabbed him in the gut. No idea why, I just did it. I am not that person anymore, and she probably isn't either.

[Montmorency]

Won't someone think of the millions in state money, lost?

Sell off her organs and those of her children.

[Skullheadhq]

Won't someone think of the millions in state money, lost?

Sell off her organs and those of her children.

At least give the money to the real victim.

I almost killed somoene when I was sixteen I stabbed him in the gut. No idea why, I just did it. I am not that person anymore, and she probably isn't either.

Stabbed?

[Fragony]

Well yeah, I was a different person than I am now. A child at 15 and a terror at 16, turned normal at 18

[Skullheadhq]

Well yeah, I was a different person than I am now. A child at 15 and a terror at 16, turned normal at 18

Why did you stab him/her?

[rajpoot]

She admits he didn't do it, would you be angry at someone who wronged you at the age of sixteen.

Reformation and forgiveness are beautiful concepts but not always applicable. IMO 16 is old enough to know that you might be ruining a person's life. And it's not exactly a matter of simple wrong doing is it?
I mean I get your point but the guy in question spent five years in prison.....that's far more than what can be tolerated as a mistake made by a child.
Also I don't think that the 1.5 mill of state's money is the main issue. The issue is that a person was wrongly convicted.

Anyway I do not think that anything will happen to the girl unless, the man, presses the charges (that is the correct phrase I hope....?). If he really thinks that he can forgive her then it'll be commendable on his part.

I almost killed somoene when I was sixteen I stabbed him in the gut. No idea why, I just did it. I am not that person anymore, and she probably isn't either.

Was it him or her?
And out of inappropriate curiosity why'd you stab this person?

[Fragony]

Why did you stab him/her?

Just a fight. Have a few of my own, it was kinda normal to use knives but only to cut and not in the face. Stabbed before I knew it, I wasn't thinking. That is the best I can make out of it I don't remember much of it, but I almost killed someone that much is sure

@rajpoot of course it was a him

[Sarmatian]

The problem with punishing this woman and saying she should be put in prison, is that it could act as a deterrent for other girls who have been raped to come forward. If a woman is raped and thinking about going to the police, reading about cases where a woman was charged with a false accusation and imprisoned could frighten them in to keeping quiet in fear, the rapist might even use such stories to try to ensure she doesn't come forward.

Some people will say that a genuine rape victim will have no risk of charges being brought against them, whether or not that is true, they are unlikely to be in a frame of mind to make such rational decisions at the time, a remote possibility could quite easily seem a certainty after such a traumatic experience.

Having said that, the idea of someone falsely accusing another of rape is something I find repulsive, it really does ruin the other person's life, purely out of spite. I would love to see such cases dealt with by malicious fake rape claims being given the same sentence the accused rapist would have received. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

There's also the idea of women putting rape charges because they were dumped, never called again, felt ashamed in the morning, wanted money or publicity etc...

Man accused of rape end up in prison and have a stain for the rest of their lives, it's not a small matter. It needs to be shown that you can't be kidding with rape charges...

[Lemur]

It needs to be shown that you can't be kidding with rape charges...

This is one of those legal areas where I do not believe there is a happy medium. If you come down hard on false accusations, you discourage real victims. If you tilt toward the accuser, you hand a powerful weapon to unbalanced/amoral women. It's an unpleasant bit of business.

I have seen both sides of this (not personally, thank goodness). I've known women who were violated, and I saw a guy get destroyed by a false accusation of rape. I don't see any easy answers.

-edit-

That said, if I ever get charged, I want to be tried as an attractive white female. That's an option, right? These women got probation. No, seriously.

[Major Robert Dump]

If she needed money I could have maybe helped her out. On that note, both of these girls are future strippers

[Kralizec]

This is one of those legal areas where I do not believe there is a happy medium. If you come down hard on false accusations, you discourage real victims. If you tilt toward the accuser, you hand a powerful weapon to unbalanced/amoral women. It's an unpleasant bit of business.

The one does not exclude the other. That there isn't enough proof to convict a suspect of a crime doesn't mean that there is suddenly enough proof to convict the victim of making a false accusation.

Prosecuting the woman in the OP would, at worst, give false accusers a clue that it isn't a good idea to admit you've been lying - especially to the person you've sent to jail. I doubt that genuine rape victims would feel discouraged to report to the police. I say charge the idiot and send her to jail.

[Beskar]

I found it really sad when they said "You are a big black guy, you are guilty". Damn bigots.

[ajaxfetish]

He didn't contest the charges - his lawyer should be going to gaol.

I'd like to agree with you, but what if the lawyer was right? If he'd fought the charges and been convicted anyway, he'd probably still be in prison today--hardly an improvement on his current situation. The girl's actions are despicable, and the lawyer's advice may have been horrible, but I think our legal system and our culture that tacitly assumes the guilt of anyone charged with a crime is just as culpable. Innocent until proven guilty needs to be more than just a nice saying, and the falsely accused need to feel confident that justice will be on their side.

Ajax

[Greyblades]

I found it really sad when they said "You are a big black guy, you are guilty". Damn bigots.

Who did?

[Beskar]

His original lawyer saying that the jury will be thinking that as soon as they lay their eyes on him.