A lesbian who claimed she was
tortured as part of a hate crime attack, has been found guilty
of fabricating the story and could now face a year in prison.
Charlie Rogers, an ex-basketball star from Nebraska, USA,
claimed that three men broke into her home, tied her to the bed,
carved anti-gay slurs into her arms and stomach before attempting
to set her house of fire. However, a forensic pathologist deemed
cuts on her body to be self-inflicted because they were too
symmetrical and no blood was found on the bed where the ordeal
supposedly took place.
Her attorney maintains Roger's innocence, but described his
client as a 'fragile personality' and she felt she could no longer
continue with the trial.
Rogers, 34, had maintained her innocence until the very end,
despite changing her plea to no contest on Monday.
Last month, Charlie posted a video on YouTube to protest against
allegations that her story was false and warn that her attackers
are still on the loose. She also accused the Lincoln Police
Department of pressurising her to change her plea.
In the 15-minute video, Rogers said: "The perpetrators of my
crime are still out there. They are. It wasn't me. I wouldn't say I
did it then, and I won't say I did it now. I am innocent."
The video has since been removed.
Around the time of the 'attack', the city of Lincoln had been in
heated debate in regards to a city ordinance to ban discrimination
against the LGBT community. Although she was never particularly
outspoken in the LGBT community, authorities believe she invented
the attack to bring about change.
Rogers now faces a year in prison and/or a $1,000 fine.
Read more: DIVA: The
Lesbian who Cried Wolf
