""The man is at fault in both cases also, sure ~ but not, surely to the very same degree of culpability?""

Yes, to the very same degree! Rape is rape, pure and simple. There are no degrees of guilt.


""But do you not agree that some victims deserve more sympathy than others?""

Of course they do, but that is a complete non sequitur. You don't express sympathy for one by mitigating the guilt of the rapist for the other.

The judicial system deals with law. Sympathy is the province of family, friends, and social workers.

All a court should be deciding is "Did she say NO? Did he continue, in spite of that NO?

If the answer is Yes to both, he is GUILTY!

Not a little bit guilty.
Not very guilty.

Just GUILTY!

Don T.