The story is heart wrenching, but the fact is, it may not be true. Anyone can literally say anything they want about someone and the internet will believe it without a moment's hesitation. It is downright scary.
If you were the accused and the story was contrived, you would not have much recourse.
Interesting. She actually lay on the bar AFTER he had his hand on her butt. That's a bit different to her account. Also, she failed to mention the "chomping on her breast".
I like your quote, but isn't laughing a signal? And therefore an action? When you laugh after someone touches you (which apparently she did), you're communicating a thumbs up to the toucher. Which is NOT an invitation for more touching, I get that, but it's certainly within the rights of the toucher to believe that further touching has been pre-approved. Level of drunkness influences how someone will wait for a more certain invitation before going ahead and touching again. This happens sometimes in bars and clubs.
She did say she felt suicidal at one point, so that's enough to lay off and put this down to just how far a messy night can go! We'll never know if another catalyst could have triggered suicidal thoughts if the event had never happened, but if I had to bet, I think she was heading somewhere dark before that night.
Hardly. Matt Darby clearly describes a situation that there was ample time for her to walk away. AND I QUOTE (Darby's Account):
"At first it was a hug, or an arm around the shoulders; friendly, drunken comraderie that they both were engaged in. Friends.
Joe started to get a little more familiar and was running his hand down her back and patting at her butt (she was seated). I noticed, and I watched. It was getting creepy, but Justine didn't move, or slap him. She was laughing, I figured it was nothing huge.
This continued for a few moments, then Justine got up on the bar, laid down in front of him, and the bartender poured a shot into her navel area. Joe slurped it up, then kissed her up the stomach until he got to, and chomped down, on her shirt-covered left breast. I was standing two feet away. I don't know who's idea this was.
Justine sat down, and Joe picked up the pace. He was really rubbing on her, and it got to the point where I felt uncomfortable for both of them. This lasted for about two minutes. His hands were admittedly all over her.
I was talking with Zach and Mike Eaton, who had just come over to us, and I said "I'll be right back" and walked over to diffuse the situation."
There was plenty of time for her to make up any excuse to leave the situation.
It's rather inappropriate for you and wilkie to be vilifying and linking to individual HN comments you disagree with on twitter. That's poor etiquette and not having a discussion in good faith. Don't pretend you're civil here and then talk behind people's backs in another public venue. Grow up.
If you were the accused and the story was contrived, you would not have much recourse.