Yeah, it's a disaster, but I am not totally shocked it happened in Philadelphia. Philadelphia has a certain reputation for this kind of idiocy. The old keystone cops show was inspired by real life fuckups. The term "Philadelphia lawyer" is a euphamism for an overpriced, sleazy lawyer. They literally firebombed civilians in 1985, and missed the target when they did. The law isn't even written the same for Philadelphia than the rest of the state. They write special laws for Philadelphia by referring to things that only apply in, "cities of the first class," and philadelphia is the only city of the first class in pennsylvania. I'm not saying that the rest of Pennsylvania is perfect, but Philly is it's own special kind of bad.
I keep on thinking about this and, in a similar case here, the police would investigate, and pass the file to the Crown Prosecution Service, and they'd then decide what to do with it.
Normally in an historical rape case with a credible complainant who was willing to give evidence, they'd prosecute as a matter of policy, even if they thought the chances of a conviction were slim, but even if they decided not to prosecute, that would be the limit of their involvement. They'd issue a statement to the effect they were insufficiently confident their case stood a realistic chance of meeeting the criminal standard to justify bringing charges at this time, but would review the matter if new material came to light.
If they decide not to proceed, then once it's clear there's no immediate prospect of a criminal prosecution, the complainant can bring civil proceedings against the defendant if she wishes.
These require a lower standard of proof.
That's a matter for her, not the prosecuting authorities, just as it's up to the defendant and his lawyers how they respond, and if he declines to give evidence in his own defence, for whatever reason, that's his decision, and the court will have to do the best they can with the evidence they do have.
I just don't see how the civil trial and its outcome were any of the business of the DA, at least not in his capacity as an agent of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.