Victim kills rapist, justice or murder?

Jenn - posted on 04/26/2011

I would 100% say it is alright in self defense. Many rapists murder their victims after they rape them so how was she to know his intentions. I would fight for my life in a situation like that. However, If she was raped and went out and hunted him down and killed him without so much as filing a police report, then not so much.

Shannintipton - posted on 04/26/2011

I dont know legally, but if she is ok with it, then so be it. Some victims may not be able to live with themselves if they actually took another life. But I say more power to her. If they give the death penalty to rapist who are convicted then they feel no reason to keep the victims alive.

Mommy - posted on 04/26/2011

Legally she is not justified, but as a therapist I see sexual assault victims all the time, and the damage is long lasting. I have to be honest, I can't say I blame her. The laws in the US are entirely too lax for rapists and child molesters. If it was up to me they would all be sent to a deserted island and left to fend for themselves. That way, tax money doesn't go to support them and they can all rape and molest each other, and leave the rest of us to live without the fear of someone taking something that is not theirs! The most we would pay for is the boat ride out there...other than that, it's Lord of the Flies style for them.

Amber - posted on 04/26/2011

"So do I feel like it is always self defense if a rape victum to see her rapist and snap and kill him yes I do."

I can kind of see this scenario. If she ran into him on the street and lost control...then I might feel different. If she were taken back to that fearful place, felt cornered again...something like that, it would change things.

But this case is saying if she's stalking him after the fact....that's not losing control or being taken back to that fearful place without a way out. She followed HIM; that's anger, not fear.

Constance - posted on 04/26/2011

The effects of grossly understated. Men don't believe it is that bad to have sex with somene when you don't want. Women that haven't been don't undestand. I know I have been raped by three differrent men. A ex-boyfriend who was physically abusive for a long time. I was able to go into hiding. I died my hair change my entire life around. One time he had heard that I was pregnant with somebody else's baby. I had the impressions of his steel toed boots in my stomach. The police didn't do anything always said there wasn't enough evidence. But the turning point was when he raped me. I knew nothing would happen to him I didn't come out of my house alone for over a year. Until one day a friend called me and ask what his middle name was and she informed me the police had shot him to death. I went for a walk by myself out in the open. I never felt so free. I was no longe a prisoner.
So do I feel like it is always self defense if a rape victum to see her rapist and snap and kill him yes I do.
But unfortunately she will have to prove what had happened. But I am not telling anyone to kill anyone. It should always be handled differently but on an emotional level I can completely see where it could happen.

Tracey - posted on 04/26/2011

Christina, if your husband comes across any of these men I'll give him an alibi.

Christina - posted on 04/26/2011

I am torn with this. I have been raped by three different men in my life, starting at the age of 7. I can honestly say with my past, if I was ever raped again, my husband would probably kill the man who did it. And I can't really say I would stop him.

Nikki - posted on 04/26/2011

there is no reform and there is no getting past a sexual assault. 11 years later I am still in counsling, have PTSD from it and it has ruined my life. He should be in prison awaiting death row, or behind bars for life. Rapist can not be fixed or reformed.

Nikki - posted on 04/26/2011

No, she is not justified (and I am a victim of sexual assault) she would have been justified if she killed him while he was in the act OR attempting to.

Casey - posted on 04/25/2011

It's still murder in my eyes and not justified but I really can't blame the victim for doing it cause I would want to kill the bastard too but I know I wouldn't. I just think that it is incredibly sad that so many rapists get away with what they do or they get a pathetic sentence like 18 month-3 years it's like no-one really cares about the victim or that it's not a big deal, a rape victim has to live with what happened to them for the rest of their life while the attacker basically just walks away.
I think that the punishment for rape needs to be closely looked at and revised because maybe if the punishment was alot more severe then more people would think twice before subjecting someone else to this terrible crime.

Cassie - posted on 04/25/2011

Wow Cherish... you seemed to have put some thought into that... I find it rather scary.

Murder is not justifiable. He deserved to pay for his crimes but he did not deserve murder. I don't think anyone should have the ability or choice to end another person's life; that's not justice.

Cherish - posted on 04/25/2011

I would of killed that dirty disgusting pathetic waste of life too.First off id cut off all his limbs stating with his dirty life ruining dick. Then id cut out his black beating heart. Then id burrn his body and roast marshmallows over his dead burnt body while I laughed the whole time

id make surer that selfish piece of shit suffered the whole way through. Jailtime would never suffice as justice for a rapist in my eyes..just like child molesters and people who abuse animals as well should be shot and killed as well

Veronique - posted on 04/25/2011

Ummm, good one. At first i would say justice for sure because really who is he to steal her life like that even if he did not kill her. I mean to you know the therapy this women will need to ever recover if she does and even there she'll always have that fear of intimacy, that fear of having a man touch her the feeling of having your body stolen from you, violated. But on the other hand 2 wrongs don't make a right. Murder is still murder. Now if she was caught and all this went to court, would she still go to jail for murder......Probably! The law does not work that way that if someone rapes you you are intilted to kill him. No the law says that if something like that happens you go to the police and let them do the work of bringing him to justice.

Tia Melissa - posted on 04/25/2011

Part of my heart would rejoice at this. Most rapists rape more than once and on an escalating level of violence once the "high" isn't enough. The other part of me knows that killing outside of self-defense or defense of others is immoral. BUT I also see the justice in locking a perp up with the grieving family members and turning a blind eye for 30. 45. 60 minutes... Most of us want justice for those who are victims of inhumane, feral or despicable behavior. It's so complicated - a victim certainly would not be in her right mind after a violation such as that. BUT did she pursue the proper channels for justice in her society? WERE there any channels for justice? Not enough info but I sure wouldn't condemn her.

Amber - posted on 04/25/2011

During the crime is justifiable as she would be protecting herself. If he knew where she lived and was intimidating her after the fact, it would be justifiable.
But to stalk and kill him is not. My mother always said "Don't sink down to their level, it makes you no better than them". And what she did makes her no better than her attacker.

@ JuLeah A jury of your peers means other citizens, not others who have been through the same experience as you. It just means that the government doesn't decide, the citizens do.

Jenni - posted on 04/25/2011

@Juleah. The same can be said about a woman healing from her rape. A lot of women never fully heal but she has the 'chance' to. He didn't kill her. She can live the rest of her life how she chooses.

He should have the same 'chance' to reform and the same chance to be held accountable for his actions. If he is a repeat offender his chances are much greater of being charged for his crimes. I just think it goes above and beyond an eye for an eye.



I think a fair comparison would be hunting down someone who stole from you and chopping off their arm.

Kaleigh - posted on 04/24/2011

Murder is murder, rape is a horrible crime and its effects last a lifetime but to seek out a rapist to murder him nope I'd expect her to do time for it especially with it being premeditated like that.

JuLeah - posted on 04/24/2011

Well you can't call it self defence, she was not in danger when she killed him. She didn't kill him to save her own life, or even stop him from raping her, as he had already done that.

In American we have a 'jury of peers' and , to my way of thinking, that means of ther women who have been raped, so yah, she'd get off.

Honestly though, if she had money and means she could find an attorney who could come up with something.



And, Jennifer, I don't believe in 'reform' for this type of crime. They most always rape again

Danielle - posted on 04/24/2011

we arent to repay evil for evil. God says HE will avenge.

Teresa - posted on 04/24/2011

Not justified. Being raped sucks and I could see if she killed him in the midst of the attack in self defense. Premeditated murder is most certainly not justifiable.

Deanna - posted on 04/24/2011

yes. justice and murder but i would consider it justifiable.

April - posted on 04/24/2011

I agree with Jennifer.



To kill him while he was attacking her would be considered fine because she's acting in self defense but to go out and follow him afterwards and then kill him is another story.

Bonnie - posted on 04/24/2011

Jennifer and Keli's answers suit my thoughts the best.

Nikki - posted on 04/24/2011

My first reaction to this is HELL YOU JUSTICE! but the bible tells us different and what goes around comes around but if you want something done right guess you got to do it yourself

Keli - posted on 04/24/2011

If it was self defense during her attack maybe.but not to do it months later..

Ashley=) - posted on 04/24/2011

If you kill someone while being attacked, its a completely different story.You have to defend yourself at all cost.

Ashley=) - posted on 04/24/2011

I would only presume its only okay in self defense.Although not in her right mind due to the attack she had to endure from the past rape by this man, would get herr off a more serve sentence.

Killing is never the answer in any case, i feel sorry for anyone who feels its the only answer.:-(

.Imho.

Firebird - posted on 04/24/2011

Not justified. If she had to kill him to protect herself WHILE he was attacking her... well that's self defense, and I'd sure do the same if I had to. But hunting him down and killing him after the fact is murder.

Tara - posted on 04/24/2011

What Jennifer said.

Jen - posted on 04/24/2011

Of course she should have gone to the police. That's the rational citizen in me speaking. The 16 year old rape victim of my youth however says he got what he deserved and good for her!

Mel - posted on 04/24/2011

I agree with Nikki I dont think I would do it personally, but I dont blame her for doing so

Jenni - posted on 04/24/2011

No not justice. It's not even an eye for an eye. I don't mean to down play rape but you really can't compare it to murder. She still gets to live her life and has a chance of healing for the most part from her attack. By taking his life she has not given him the same chance to reform. Obviously, he should have to pay for his crimes against her. If he doesn't how is killing him doing *anything* to help her heal. If anything I would see it as more detrimental to her healing process. Not only does she have to carry around the burden of the rape... she also has to carry around the burden of her murder. Which imo is far more heinous than being raped.



If she wanted to get revenge so badly an eye for an eye would have been to hire a big, strong gay man to rape him. That to me be the appropriate personal justice.



Why would she want to risk wasting the rest of her life away in a cell over some arsehole raping her? Is it really worth it? It's a bit nonsensical to me.

Nikki - posted on 04/24/2011

It's not justified but I wouldn't blame a victim for doing so.