Rape Trial Lawyer Says Women Are Liars Because They're The Weaker Sex. Jury ... Agrees?!

On Thursday night, Steve Farese, an attorney in Memphis, Tennessee, laid out his closing arguments in defense of accused rapist and prominent local businessman Mark Giannini. Rather than arguing the facts of the case, he argued what he believed was a fact of life -- that women are just all liars! And they are exceptionally good at lying, because they are "the weaker sex."

"We've all been lied to. There's always a reason behind the lie," Farese explained "People can be really good at lying.Women can be especially good at it, because they are the weaker sexand we... and we want to protect them and not have anybody take advantage of them, at least I do.”

OH REALLY NOW? Is that a thing?

Following outcry over his statement, Farese explained that "My job is not to care if anybody gets offended. Smart people will see it for what it is."

First of all, it's not so much about being "offended" here. No one is crying into their pillow over Steve Farese thinking that they are weak and a liar because they are a woman. I am not, anyway. I am also pretty smart! And I do see it for what it is -- a really stupid and sexist and incorrect statement, possibly made in desperation due to how ridiculous the rest of his client's case is.

The woman accusing Giannini of rape says she came to his house for the purpose of a job interview. She was a waitress at a Waffle House and went there on the referral of a man she waited on there who was a friend of Giannini's. The woman testified that Giannini choked her and the next thing she remembered was waking up in a hospital. She was driven there by Giannini's housecleaner, who also testified against Giannini in the trial.

Giannni claimed that the sex was consensual -- you know, because we all so often end up unconscious in a hospital following consensual sex. His friend from the Waffle House backed him up.

James said he met the victim while she worked as a waitress at Waffle House. He said he introduced her to Giannini, because he could help her financially.

"She did know one thing," James said. "That was that you're going to be having sex."

Prosecutors disagreed. They said she was not aware Giannini would force her against her will to do anything.

"Did you tell her she was going to be choked until she passed out?" a prosecutor asked James.

"No sir," James responded.

Giannini's housekeeper, whom he called to drive the woman home, testified on behalf of his accuser, saying that she was in and out of consciousness and sobbing, as did the nurse at the hospital where she was taken, who said her chest was bruised and her face was red. The housekeeper also testified that Giannini had asked her to call the hospital and demand they take a blood test to prove that the woman was drunk (instead of roofied), and that, once he was charged, he started looking up a country to move to without an extradition agreement with the United States.

However, their testimonies were apparently not quite as compelling as Farese's argument that women are all just lying liars because of how weak they are -- because the jury found Giannini innocent on all charges. 

He is, however, still currently indicted on rape charges from two other women.

[ Memphis Commercial Appeal ]