Assignment: Assault in the City

Assignment: Assault in the City

Assignment: Assault in the City

Assault in the City Due to the intense media coverage, additional victims of the serial rapist have come forward to the police. However, the defense is questioning the veracity of these claims. Dr. Shayleigh Johnson is asked by the court to interview several of the victims of the alleged rapist.

Two of these victims had not reported the crime to the police when it occurred. They have come forward only now, when the case is prepared to go to trial. The defense is suggesting these alleged victims actually are involved in a personal vendetta and are seeking publicity related to a high-profile case. Dr. Johnson needs to assess the veracity of these claims and report to the court. To complicate matters, one of the victims who did not initially report the rape is a schoolmate of Dr. Johnson’s fifteen-year-old daughter. Though not close friends, they do move in some of the same social circles. Dr. Johnson does not know the victim or her family.

The assistant district attorney (ADA), who is under intense public scrutiny regarding the trial, suggests to Dr. Johnson she could lose the case if these newly self-identified victims are inconsistent in their testimonies and appear to be disingenuous. The prosecutor asks Dr. Johnson to prepare to testify with regard to how victims of sexual assault respond and the reasons why victims may not report their assault to the police. Additionally, the prosecutor wants her to be available to describe possible motives of the defendant.