Pope AFB: Inconsistencies in rape story 1 hour, 4 minutes ago

Pope AFB: Inconsistencies in rape story 1 hour, 4 minutes ago



POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Factual inconsistencies and the accuser's unwillingness to testify prompted Pope Air Force Base to dismiss charges in her rape case, base officials said in a statement.

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The officials would not say whether the inconsistencies alone would have led to a dismissal of charges against one of the three airmen whom the woman accused of raping her in a dorm room in May 2006.

"If the victim decides not to cooperate with the prosecution and declines to testify, prosecution is extremely difficult and generally not feasible," the officials said in the statement, released Thursday.

Rape charges were referred to a general court-martial for one of the airmen. But Air Force officials said they found factual inconsistencies as they investigated the case prior to an Article 32 hearing.

"As a result of the inconsistencies and her unwillingness to testify, the charges against the individual were dismissed," the statement said.

The female airman has said she declined to testify because she believed she had no support in the judicial process.

Her military defense lawyers said her version of events had no inconsistencies.

"There is no question that (the female airman) was raped by three men in the early morning hours of 13 May 2006. She has been consistent about being raped from the beginning. She did not consent to any sexual activity with any of those men," the defense lawyers said in a statement.

The three airmen received nonjudicial punishment for indecent acts — having consensual sex while others were present. They also were granted immunity for testifying at her trial, according to documents provided by her lawyers.

The female airman, 20, who was charged with indecent acts and drinking under age, rejected nonjudicial punishment for a court-martial. She faces a general court-martial Sept. 24.