Former Vanderbilt football player again convicted of rape

[ailsagirl]

Source: AP

By Associated Press June 18 at 10:04 PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A jury has convicted a former Vanderbilt football player of encouraging his teammates to rape an unconscious woman he had been dating. It took jurors just over four hours of deliberation Saturday before finding Brandon Vandenburg guilty on multiple counts of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery. In addition, he was convicted of one count of unlawful photography.

The jurors in the case had to decide whether to hold Vandenburg criminally responsible for what other players were accused of doing to the female student in a dorm room in June of 2013.

Four former players were all charged in the case but only two were accused of raping and sexually assaulting the woman.

Vandenburg’s attorneys had argued that he was too drunk to form the necessary intent to direct or encourage players he didn’t even know to commit the crime.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/former-vanderbilt-football-player-again-convicted-of-rape/2016/06/18/2f323938-35bf-11e6-ab9d-1da2b0f24f93_story.html?postshare=51466301454072&tid=ss_tw

[WhiteTara]

1. There is always some excuse

glad the jury saw through his bullshit and convicted him. One small step against the rape culture.

[ailsagirl]

2. Amen

I remember hearing about this case on TV-- it was appalling (as they all are, of course)

[Igel]

4. This was Corey Bates' co-perpetrator.

Let's see how Vanderburg fairs for sentencing. Same state, same laws, same jurisdiction (even). So let's see how the sentencing goes. (An actual list of the charges he was found guilty of might help, not just "multiple counts of".)

[christx30]

3. Sports and rape. Like peanut butter and jelly. N/t

[brer cat]

6. They have always been privileged. nt

[Hoppy]

5. Fuuball good. It builds character.

[radicalliberal]

12. You're right (sarcasm). Just like this guy.

F'ball is 'Merica's new secular religion. It's sacred. Don't you dare object to any of the negative aspects of the culture of school sports, or you'll enrage the sports fans. Criticizing the rape culture in football and other sports (as well as fraternities) is blasphemy!

[Judi Lynn]

7. In contrast to Stanford case, Vanderbilt rapist sentenced to 15 years

In contrast to Stanford case, Vanderbilt rapist sentenced to 15 years
June 19, 2016

An ex-Vanderbilt University football player will serve at least 15 years in prison after he was convicted by a jury Saturday of encouraging three teammates to rape an unconscious woman he was dating, and filming it in his dorm room.

Brandon Vandenburg, 23, must be sentenced to at least 15 years in prison for aggravated rape under Tennessee law, as must his former teammate, Corey Batey, 22, who was found guilty in April of the same crime.

“I’m hoping this will send a message out. This is serious what happens, and has serious consequences,” said Tom Thurman, Nashville’s deputy district attorney, immediately after Mr. Vandenburg’s conviction. “I hope young people do pay attention to this, and see what choices they make with alcohol. Their actions can severely impact their lives, and in certain cases destroy their lives.”

Mr. Vandenburg and Mr. Batey’s convictions come amid criticism about how colleges handle sexual assaults, alcohol, and the conduct of student athletes. And as the Associated Press writes, the crime is “tragically similar” to that of ex-Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who was sentenced to six months in jail for the sexual assault of an unconscious woman outside a fraternity on the California campus.

More:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/contrast-stanford-case-vanderbilt-rapist-sentenced-15-years-212743788.html?nhp=1

[philosslayer]

8. There's a significant difference in the two cases

When you look a bit closer, things start to make sense.

[tblue37]

9. Good. That big jerk is a piece of work. nt

[tblue37]

10. Her extreme unconsciousness through the whole thing has all along made me suspect her drink

Last edited Sun Jun 19, 2016, 11:36 PM - Edit history (1)

might have been drugged, and this statement from another article makes me think it is almost certain that she was--yet I have not read that the prosecutors mentioned that possibility at all in the trial.

The woman does not remember a period of hours between sipping a blue drink Vandenburg gave her at the bar and waking up in his bed, alone and in the worst pain she’s felt, at 8 a.m. the next day, she said.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2016/06/18/vanderbilt-rape-trial-brandon-vandenburg/86052710/

[ailsagirl]

11. That's a good point

I wondered about that myself. That's a long time to be unconscious without any drug other than alcohol in one's system.