Photo Attribution: US Presswire
Three things I am not:
1. A lawyer
2. A forensics expert
3. A judicial analyst
Nor will I ever pretend to be any of those things.
But wow, how about these two sentences, one from the Oklahoman’s story and one from Kelly Hines on Darrell Williams being convicted of three of the five charges of rape and sexual battery levied against him…
The defense questioned much of the victim’s story, including the short timeline of events and the lack of physical evidence.
If lie-detector tests were admissible in court, would it have made a difference? Darrell Williams voluntarily took and passed two.#okstate
— Kelly Hines (@KellyHinesTW) July 24, 2012
Strong statements, both. And very difficult to effectively end a man’s free days with both sitting out in the open 1.
And yet Williams sits in jail tonight and will soon be headed to prison because he either A. raped another human being or B. was in an extremely bad place at an extremely bad time.
I’ve been pretty ambivalent about this entire thing, not sure how I’d feel if he was found guilty and really not sure how I’d feel if he was found innocent.
The problem with that though was that I was looking at it through OSU hoops-colored glasses instead of “this is another human being we’re talking about”-colored ones.
The first tweet I saw about it was, well, staggering. I felt like I’d been delivered a blow to the stomach, not because I cared about the fact that an Oklahoma State basketball player was guilty of a crime but because I cared that a person I had cheered for and read about was about to be put away in prison.
There will be fallout, both on and off the team, for months (maybe years?) to come over what 12 Stillwater residents decided tonight, and the truth is that nobody wins. I mean nobody2.
A friend of mine, whom I had just spent three hours with talking OSU and life over beers, sent me a four-word text on my way home tonight that I felt summed up this landmark night in OSU history…
“His life is over.”
- Again, faraway bystander here, but I also paid attention in school when non qui negat was discussed. ↩
- On that note, quite the day to be a college sports fan living in Stillwater, OK, huh? And I don’t mean in a “wow, John Lucas just hit a sick three to send us to the Final Four” kind of way either ↩
I’m not pretending to be some expert either, but why was it almost every OSU fan you talked to seemed almost positive he was innocent? Because he passed a lie detector test? Because Ford and other teammates vouched for him? Idk, it just seemed everyone was convinced he’d be back on the team next year and I was never entirely sure why people thought that.
On a pure basketball note, why are people acting like this dude was some sort of all conference player? He was an average player who was coming around before he got in trouble. That’s about it. Saw the article where players on the team “swear he would have been the best player on the team last season.” Come on now… that just shows how bad we were.
I just want an answer to why Jarred Shaw didn’t have to appear under subpoena. If it was so serious that he was subpoenea-d, then no showed, but that didn’t factor in…I mean, wtf?
I’m partially with you, Nate. I think everybody considered it a foregone conclusion that he was coming back.
Not saying he’s innocent (again, don’t put yourself in a position where this is a remote possibility) but you have to admit the evidence is less than substantial. Or seemingly less than substantial. Basically her word vs. his.
Yeah I agree with you. I don’t understand the Shaw thing at all. I would figure the defense would raise hell over that. Mistrial maybe? I really don’t know…
I just never read of anything that would lead people to be so adamant that he was innocent. I guess the same could be said for if he was guilty, but I guess a victim on stand pointing the finger at you is pretty damning if you don’t have some sort of ace in the hole.
Also scary because, theoretically, anybody can point the finger at anybody else…
This is something that REALLY scares me about our society/judicial system. Not that I am personally worried about that (…OK, I am to the extent possible) because I try to keep myself out of situations where something bad could take place…
Bad news from a worse situation. I hope the team does not suffer because of one individuals actions.
Yeah it’s strange how most fans are acting like there was proof that he’s innocent. My frustration is solely on the premise that the only evidence against him is testimony, which from what I hear was very convincing. I’m not sure what was said in testimonies from both sides, but to put someone in prison because you believe one stranger over another seems wrong.
I noticed how you still managed to get a shot in at our basketball program. Classic Nate, but I have to say I agree. He would have helped, but wouldn’t have been a star. Agree with Pistols Guy in that the disappointment in this verdict is completely non-basketball related.
The victim didn’t even pick Darrell out of the police line up.
I thought she did identify him?
Nate, you are a dumb ass.
Haha is this a Darrell Williams family member?
I asked a defense lawyer here in Austin about this today and he was kinda surprised they convicted on a he said/she said type of trial. His other comment was “Why did that even go to trial? That should have been worked out outside of a courtroom. I would’ve guessed mistrial had you not said he was found guilty”
Again, not saying he was guilty or not guilty, but to kill a human beings life basically over the word of someone else seems rather odd because the giant glaring question now is “What if she is lying?” and the same could be said vice versa if he was found not guilty in “What if he really did it?”
Sad sad story all the way around.
Justification for our frustration. Just makes no sense.
Is anyone surprised that a conviction was made against a young black man in Oklahoma on a he-said she-said testimony? If the man is guilty, so be it, and his punishment should be appropriate. But, it sounds like the jury was “cautious” as sided with the accuser though there was room for reasonable doubt.
You’re jumping to a conclusion making this about race. I’m not completely ruling that out but yes I am surprised that THIS black man was convicted for this crime based on lack of physical evidence. Let’s not be quick to judge the jury as racists, especially when you haven’t reviewed all the details of the trial.
Wasn’t the girl black too, or am I making that up?
it doesn’t matter. but man, killer. i agree with most in saying there wasn’t enough proof his guilt. the burden of proof was completely put on the defense in this case. that said, i cant prove his innocent or guilt, i guess ill have to move on.heartbreaking for him and the alleged victims though.
Oh goodie, the race card finally shows up…
Include me in the group -not convienced either way – the burden of proof beyond resonable doubt was not met in my opinion. Now my opinion is no better than anyone elses… Scary how someone’s life hangs on the whim of opinion.
It does not seem resonable that a person would “rape two individuals” in that environment and no witnesses, no physical evidence, just accusations.