Re: 18 LSU Players Sign Witness Testimonies Saying Jefferson Did Nothing Wrong
Jefferson is suspended only because he and Johns were charged with felony assault. They were charged by the police based on the testimony of Lowery and his friends. The DNA evidence turned up negative and there are about 20 third-party witnesses that contradict the alleged victims. The DA chose not to prosecute on this flimsy evidence. 90% of bar fights end up with no charges filed. Most of the rest end up with misdemeanor battery charges against all parties in the fight.
This kind of felony battery charge is rare in a bar fight and convictions are rare as well. The DA put it all before the Grand Jury today to avoid appearances of bias. If they indict Jefferson, then it will all go to trial and the truth will come out publicly. If not, they will walk from criminal charges and can be reinstated by Les. Many observers believe that the noisy accusations of the alleged victims' attorney is that he is setting this up for a civil suit against Jefferson and Johns and possibly LSU.
I believe that the DA feels that there is little evidence against the two and that clearly some of the unnamed "witnesses" are lying. If they lie before the Grand Jury, they risk jail, so likely the truth will come out in the Grand Jury testimony, but we will never hear about it. To quote the DA "We want everyone that we've interviewed and have been interviewed by police with knowledge of what went on in the fight to testify under oath and under the potential penalty of perjury."
Brother, I understand that your intentions are good but you are on an Alabama board. Most in the nation pressumed JJ guilty as soon as this came out. It doesn't matter that the ONLY witness against Jefferson has personal ties to the "victim" and when the police contacted the phone of the victim, she answered and said they were sleeping (at her apartment).
From all other accounts, not only players, Jefferson was not even invovled in the fight. This includes the testimony of the bar employees that saw him standing away from the fight as it occurred.
On to another point. This Marine that everyone is mentioning was certainly not in his dress blues or any type of duty uniform. It wasn't as if the team was looking to assualt military personnel. This Marine also has a standing restraining order on him. Video in the bar shows him harrassing the ex-girlfriend that placed the restraining order, and then he punched the guy she was with. Jefferson had no contact with the Marine as he was being escorted from the bar for the assualt on the ex-girlfriends new flame.
Blah, blah, blah ........ I've been following this pretty closely, as would you if it was an Alabama player and this pressumption of guilt that is being assumed is unfounded until . At present time he is innocent, just as any of us would be prior to our day in court. Roll Tide !!!!!!!! / Geaux Tigers !!!!
I certaininly hope he is found innocent if indeed he is. At this point, he would not return to the starting role anyway. He has missed three weeks of practice and Jarrett Lee is 3-0 on the season. The courts convened today and have scheduled another hearing for NEXT Wednesday so at best, if he is back this season, it won't be until week 6. He still won't start.
