No Proof Anyone 'Callously' Took Video of Rape on SEPTA Train, DA Says

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/no-proof-anyone-callously-took-video-of-rape-on-septa-train-da-says/3006034/

The revelation from District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer runs counter to the police narrative of the rape on a SEPTA Market-Frankford elevated train at the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby. Police said in that case that passengers took cellphone video without calling 911 before a SEPTA employee called police.

“There is a narrative out there that people sat there on the El train and watched this transpire and took videos of it for their own gratification,” Stollsteimer said using the nickname for the Market-Frankford line. “That is simply not true. It did not happen. We have security video from SEPTA that shows that is not the true narrative.”

In fact, Stollsteimer said, SEPTA security video shows that a “handful” of people who were getting on and off the train as it traveled from Philadelphia to the 69th Street Terminal had observed different parts of the rape, possibly without knowing what exactly was happening.

(snip)
Two people may have recorded video of the attack on their cellphone, one of whom “probably” alerted SEPTA of the attack, Stollsteimer said.

Huh.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Don't get me wrong; people lie all over the place in our carceral system.

But cops lie a lot, particularly when they want to advance the narrative that only they can keep us safe.

[marble falls]

2. So they were videoing in what way? To be helpful?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. It's possible they thought it was consensual and were going to post it to social media.

[LisaL]

6. Potentially they wanted to be helpful. Per the article, one of them "probably" alerted SEPTA.

I am surprised they still can't figure it out for sure.

[RockRaven]

4. Kitty Genovese story 2.0

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. If you mean that the original media/cop narrative was not true, you're correct.

[RockRaven]

8. Yeah, I meant a load of crap about people standing by and doing nothing while something depraved

was going on, and everyone getting the vapors over how it's a sign of how messed up our society is.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. Got it.

[obamanut2012]

7. That is a myth, created by cops and a writer

Didn't happen.

She died in her neighbor's arms, and that woman was one of many who called the cops.

[RockRaven]

9. That's what I meant -- a BS narrative about bystanders that doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

[obamanut2012]

20. Oh duh

Gotcha! Sorry.

[LizBeth]

11. Two of them video'd (That they know of) AND it didn't happen. Doesn't work.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. "Callously" is the key word here. People who videoed and/or witnessed it may not have known

it wasn't consensual, and it sounds like the one may have recorded and then called 911.

[LizBeth]

13. Hmmm, and they decided. Two people video'd a rape. No one spoke up. I feel so much better. Thanks.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

14. It's possible no one spoke up because they didn't know.

[LizBeth]

15. Ya.

[Dorian Gray]

17. What I don't understand

is the article says nobody called the cops but one employee did call the cops.... and they showed up within six minutes. Sometimes these things are weird. Takes a moment to realize what is going on. Some passengers could have been in shock or afraid. We don't know.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

18. Kick.

[JI7]

19. Unless we have some clear proof here it's a distraction to blame

random people from the real issues . And with the gun issue in this country sometimes it's best to just record things and hopefully get the person rather than attempt to try something themselves and innocent people get killed.

[RobinA]

21. Yeah, This

I live in the Philadelphia 'burbs. Some of these people will beat you to death for being a fan of an opposing team. But some story about people on the El not calling the cops? Maybe, but I can think of many reasons why it may not be as simple as the outrage-bait story.

I blame the media a bit for this one. Lots of hyperventilating over people's guesses as to what might have happened and little actual fact investigation. Conspicuously absent from this story starting at day 1 was any comment from anybody actually present. That's a red flag right there.