[michaelt]

Many legal traditions don’t require a victim. It’s the state that prosecutes, not the victim.

As a practical matter it would be difficult to prosecute an assault where the victim opposed the prosecution, so most states wouldn’t bother - but for things like speeding and dealing drugs the law has been broken despite the lack of a victim.

[dannyw]

I'm imagining a courtroom where the defendant calls upon the victim as a witness who tells the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.