I was assaulted when I was 21 by my girlfriend's ex. He came into town for the night, decided to look her up, found out part way through the night he wasn't getting the girl, and decided to assault me in retaliation.  That was 1989.

So, I wait 13 years to file charges, and I walk in the door to a local police detachment in 2002 and finally lay charges.  What are the odds the officer even takes my statement? If he does, there's been 13 years that have come and gone, so there's no hope for any kind of physical evidence, there's almost no hope of finding corroborating witnesses, the bar has been shut down, the defendant himself has to be found, etc.

Let's say I'm lucky enough to get a trial, and at the trail it comes to light that I hung around with the guy like a buddy would 3-4 times after that night.  And that I colluded with another witness hundreds of times to get our stories straight.

Are the critics of the result seriously contending I should expect a conviction?