adevarul.ro/adevarul-juridic/cand-declaratia-victi

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that a Turkish court violated the right to a fair trial by relying solely on the victim's first statement in a rape case without addressing subsequent contradictory statements. The court emphasized the need for judges to explain their choice when considering conflicting testimonies. In this case, the victim's accounts changed during the trial, yet the initial statement was used for conviction without justification for disregarding later versions. The court found that while a conviction can rely on a single witness's testimony, including that of the victim, the defense's arguments must be adequately examined. The ruling highlighted the importance of thorough judicial reasoning in cases involving serious accusations like rape.