Hawks’ Thabo Sefolosha on not guilty verdict: “Justice was served”
Source: http://nba.nbcsports.com
Friday morning, a New York jury found Atlanta Hawks guard Thabo Sefolosha not guilty of misdemeanor obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. The charges stemmed from the night in the final weeks of last season when Sefolosha and then teammate Pero Antic went to a New York club after arriving in town, and while there Pacers player Chris Copeland was stabbed outside the club. In his clash with police, Sefolosha suffered a broken leg that required surgery and kept him out of the playoffs.
The New York prosecutor tried to make this go away with a plea deal of just day of community service and six months probation. But Sefolosha had the means and mind to fight the charges, got his day in court and won. This is what he said in a statement after the verdict, released by the Atlanta Hawks.
This mornings verdict ended a long and emotional period for me. Justice was served and for that I am eternally grateful to the judge and jury for their quick and deliberate decision
.
Its troubling to me that with so much evidence in my support that this case would even be brought to trial and that I had to defend myself so hard to get justice. It pains me to think about all of the innocent people who arent fortunate enough to have the resources, visibility and access to quality legal counsel that I have had.
It was important to me as a man, a father to two young girls and as a role model, to stand up for what I believe in and have my name cleared of any wrongdoing. Todays verdict will not make up for the pain and trauma my family and I have suffered over the past six months or bring back the opportunity to have played in the Eastern Conference Finals and have a shot at an NBA title, but it does bring me some peace and closes a painful chapter in my life.
Now I look forward to returning to the team and focusing solely on my rehabilitation for the upcoming season so that I can get back to playing the game I cherish so much.
Read more: http://nba.nbcsports.com/2015/10/09/hawks-thabo-sefolosha-on-not-guilty-verdict-justice-was-served/
As troubling as the NYPDs behavior and the New York city attorneys decision to prosecute is the deafening silence of the sports media during this trial. When a NBA or NFL player is in trouble with the law, the sports media continues beating the story until the horse is dead and mangled. For a story where an NBA player missed meaningful playoff games due to shocking police brutality, the media had very, very little to say.
ESPNs Bomani Jones called out the rest of the sports media in a masterful rant on the subject.
The easy answer is always you shouldnt beat women, the easy answer is always you shouldnt use drugs. Well you got a trial right here that has the hard answers and lucky for you theyre giving you the answers. You dont have to necessarily opine on the answers. You dont have to step outside of what is in the factual records. You dont have to take any real risks. You got it right in front of you, so where are you now? Where are your principles now? Where are the things that you stand for right now? Because its real easy to find you guys when its easy. Its real easy to find you when the answers are given to you When its time to get hyper-moral and the answers are easy everybody gets loud as hell. Now the answers are a little tricky [talking about the disproportionate police brutality towards blacks] and youre quiet as church mice, and you look like suckers as a result.
negoldie
(198 posts)but if you don't have many resources, yet have a rare incurable disease like chronic Mantle Cell Lymphoma. You humble yourself, you tell your friends, family (my dear sister, with brain cancer has come through with $) and everyone who will listen. You are going to lose your house, your thirteen year old car, everything eventually in a year or so, your life. You lose all self respect and beg: please help.
https://www.gofundme.com/y4d8hs
WhiteHat
(129 posts)After paying a monstrous legal bill, Thabo Sefalosha was declared innocent. Sorry, can't see that as significant to the "little people" who desperately need The Law to achieve Justice.