Alleged teen victim feels pressure in local assault case, part 1

The realities of the legal system can seem harsh at times. That point is obvious for criminal defendants but also true at times for supposed crime victims. This is one of two posts about a Baltimore assault case that is drawing intense local attention.

A 16-year-old who is the supposed victim of an assault in Baltimore is wrapped up in the criminal proceedings following a November 2010 incident. He is the alleged victim in the criminal case being pushed forward by the state, but he is reportedly passionate about not wanting the case against the two defendants to move forward.

The 2010 case involves two defendants who were reportedly part of a Jewish neighborhood watch group. The prosecution argues that the college students needlessly attacked the teen (an African American) for racial reasons while he was walking through their neighborhood. Following the incident, the teen had a head wound that needed staples.

The Baltimore Sun reports that in testimony earlier this week, the teen said to the court that he wanted the assault charges dropped. He mumbled on the stand, announcing that he regretted calling police in the first place. By the end of the day, the teen refused to answer any questions on the stand at all.

Some might ask why criminal charges would stick if the so-called victim of the crime doesn’t want them to. Our next post will discuss this case further, briefly explaining why a victim’s change of heart doesn’t put a stop to a criminal case and more.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, “Alleged Werdesheim victim asks to drop charges,” Tricia Bishop, April 25, 2012