What is your honest take on this situation?
I'd qualify any input I have by making it clear that I don't have the information that the judge and jury got. My opinion on Hayne is that it appears there is reliable evidence that he is guilty on this specific matter, which is why he was found guilty. My opinion more broadly is that a lot of pundits expressing opinions bring to their opinions context that has nothing to do with Hayne, including opinions that are politically or socially based.
In regards Inu and Williams, they follow in the steps of an incredibly long line of friends/family of a person found guilty of a crime who have said "I know him/her, there is no way they could have done this", despite evidence to the contrary. Unfortunately for them they've been unwise enough to make those thoughts public where most people keep them to themselves.
I feel sorry for the victim obviously and undertand her pain but we cant be stopping free speech because a few idiots want to express their thoughts on the matter.
I'm not sure that we can understand the pain of victims of rape without experiencing something similar. We can certainly understand that they HAVE pain, but that is a bit different.
I don't believe it is accurate to address the matters surrounding Inu and Williams as being an issue of free speech. They have/are being responded to by private organisations and individuals.
Freedom of expression (often referred to as "free speech") is actually more about the individual's rights against the government. Unfortunately the concept has been somewhat hi-jacked by various people for unrelated purposes that can often be loosely summarised as "I want to be able to say whatever I like without having to take responsibility for what I say".
I appreciate the proposal by John Stuart Mill in regards liberty that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." I also appreciate that the definition of "harm" when it comes to practical application of this principle can be an area of debate.