The local police did look into this two years ago, there was not enough evidence then to go further but the media wrote about the story for two years. The local prosecutor looked into the investigation, and thought about charging the accuser because her story changed four times and there was reason to believe that her account was false, but the media kept pushing the story because controversy sells.
The university wanted to investigate two years ago but the accuser, stalled them and wanted time so this hearing was delayed.
Everyone is against rape and is aware of the rape culture and issues between athletes and their girlfriends, and spouses and this is an emotional topic that many people react to often without all of the facts. The facts in this case show that there is not enough evidence to go forward, yet people are convinced that this young man is guilty, even though there isn't enough evidence to prove that.
Isn't everyone innocent until proven guilty? I realize that my opinion isn't going to be popular here but this young man has been through years of scrutiny about these charges, at what point do people believe that there is just as much chance that he is not guilty as they are convinced that he is guilty without the facts to back up that assertion?
I am tired of seeing the reputation of the accused and my university, and the local police department, the State Attorney's office etc... smeared as if there is some kind of massive cover up just to protect the quarterback. At the time that these charges were originally made Jameis Winston, wasn't the superstar that he is today. Why is it so hard to believe after story after story of the media convicting people of things that later we find out they are just not guilty of when more facts are released.
Are there problems with our justice system certainly, but for the most part it works if you allow it to and you don't allow others to twist it into being used in ways it is not meant to like the perversion of the grand jury system. But there are a lot of reasons to believe that Winston is not guilty of this accusation, however some people will never believe the facts of a situation when they have already made up their minds about what they choose to believe.
Is Winston a young man with a lot to learn about being a leader and setting a good example sure but is he the thug that he has been painted to be by the media and all of the rabid college football fans who root for other schools and bleed hatred for the opposition, is it so hard to believe after cases like the Duke Lacrosse case, or so many other that the accuser could be crying wolf?
I don't see why so many of you are convinced otherwise? I have followed this case closely as an alumni of the college and a sports fan, I would hope that if Winston were guilty that he would be punished, but I also know that he also deserves a chance to defend himself from charges, any of us could be falsely charged with any crime, and I would hope that we would deserve a chance to defend ourselves and be believed in any case
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