i don't quite understand your position Minstrel. i think exactly the opposite, but i'm sure we're not a million miles apart in attitudes on other things.. personally, i would plead guilty to something i'd never done to keep a lgf off the stand.

and granted, pleading guilty would most likely be sentencing her to 'counselling', but are you saying it is better for the girl to get to fight things out in court, becos i think thats wrong, for the simple reason that the girl is expected to be working for the prosecution.

if the guy hurt her, then fine, nail his balls to a railway sleeper, but if the girl was friendly with him, how is it going to benefit her to be forced to testify against him?

i think you have some romantic fantasy that she will stand up to all the pressure and manipulation and defend him in court. isn't that expecting an awful lot of a child?