Can Accused Illini Baller Dribble Wisely?

Lawyers’ playbook says stall a felony trial & hope witnesses recant or die, but does star Illini baller & accused rapist need a hearing to be reinstated on team or to beg for an early chance to prove his innocence?

There are times when a full court press, not a mamby pamby zone defense, is the only realistic option & can’t help wondering if THIS is one of them. What good would a reinstatement do for a vilified Terrence Shannon while awaiting trial that might not happen til NEXT SUMMER? And, can you imagine the accused playing in games at opposition arenas with such an ugly target affixed to his back? Meanwhile, if the defense’s take on events is believable, the charges of rape are susceptible to being defeated in an admittedly high stakes trial, held asap.

These are the sketchy facts, according to ESPN & as related by Shannon’s lawyer in his filing for a restraining order against his university after being summarily canned by it when notified by Lawrence, Kansas prosecutors that he had been actually CHARGED with raping a young woman “at a bar last September”. The defense complaint is based on a lack of due process by the university in enforcing its “zero tolerance” policy & rightly points out “the presumption of innocence means nothing in this case.” But, is the U the real problem or fixer here or the prosecutor who filed the charges? Does the prosecutor have anything more than the alleged victim’s word to file the charge that Shannon “feloniously … engaged in sexual intercourse” without the consent of his victim, who was “overcome by force or fear”? This happened at a bar, presumably with multiple witnesses? The defense complaint more revealingly says Shannon’s alleged mea culpa was “inappropriately touching” his accuser, but for rape to attach there has to be some kind of “penetration”. Again, at this bar? Shannon’s arraignment is Jan. 18 & while judges generally don’t have the power to dismiss a case at this stage, this might be the best chance for the defense to show the prosecutor the weakness of his charges & ask her for a dismissal for lack of evidence or at least a reduction of the charge. If a no go, then, kindly call the prosecution’s bluff with an all-out push for as early a trial as possible. A little candor & humility by Shannon might help. So might saying a Hail Mary.

Davd Soul