District Court tells Man (29) free for rape ex-colleagues due to doubt: « He was shocked when she had filed a complaint » (Eeklo)

The court spoke a 29-year-old man on Monday for the rape of his ex-colleague. « He was shocked when she had filed a complaint. He would certainly have stopped if she had indicated that, » it sounded.

The two had met again in the night of 17 to 18 June 2023 during a night out in Eeklo. The woman later stated that after the drinks she got a full blackout. As a result, she no longer knew whether she eventually went home effectively with the defendant and his friend.

When the victim woke up the next morning, she saw that her bra was broken, her top was torn and her slip lay on the floor. She had pain in her vagina and had had a bleeding.

Rap

The woman went to it Care center after sexual violence to be examined. It turned out that she had a round bruise aan the left -hand lower leg and on the outside of her knee. « The doctors have also established a swelling and scales at the entrance of her vagina, » it sounded.

The lady filed a complaint with the police. She stated that she couldn’t remember anything of the evening. So she had not given permission to have sex with her ex-colleague. She only remembered that the defendant had said aloud that he would bring her to home.

The police then interviewed a friend of the defendant who was also there. He confirmed that he had been to the victim’s home with the defendant, but that he used to leave. « He left the defendant with the woman and told that the woman was very drunk, » the court said.

Initiative

The ex-colleague said that he had experienced the evening differently. He said that they were flirting at home with the lady and that they both felt like sex. « And in his severe excitement he torn the body of the woman, » it sounded. « After sex he left and the lady fell asleep on the seat. »

The man also said that he never had the impression that she didn’t want it. According to him, she also took the initiative.

Acquittal

The man had to answer for rape in court. The court took the case and the man spoke free on Monday for doubt. « There is no certainty about the defendant’s fault, » the court said.

The court says, among other things, that the investigation does not show that they drank the wife such, « Lazarus, » was that she could no longer give permission. « Being purely under the influence – even to a large extent – of alcohol in this case, is not sufficient to be able to speak of non -consensual sex, » the court says.

The court continued in her reasons that no statement from the defendant is contradicted by the victim’s statement. « That is also explained by the fact that she does not remember the facts between midnight and one hour, » the court says. « And in this case, when in doubt, that must be in favor of the defendant. »