The mob really have done a great job getting this story around the world. Like the politicians take on all this as they ignore what has gone on in their own back yard with the peadophiles, so they can have their 5 mins of fame, because that is what they are about.
The whole affair is sordid, but the conviction does not look sound to me and why would you apologise if you are appealing the decision, and strongly believe it was not rape?
Sign him, take the 15 minutes of mob disgust, and move on, if the board believes that the conviction is not sound.