The time had finally come for Jane Doe to tell her story on the stand. As she began to describe details of the night she was allegedly gang-raped by Derrick Rose and two of his friends, the New York Knicks star arrived at his trial – two hours after it began and 40 minutes into his accuser’s testimony.
Derrick Rose finally showed up at 10:43, 40 minutes into Doe testimony and nearly 2 hours after he was scheduled to show. Wearing dark suit
— Julia Marsh (@juliakmarsh) October 6, 2016
The 30-year-old woman who is suing Rose, Ryan Hampton, and Randall Allen for supposedly non-consensual events that took place in the early-morning hours of Aug. 27, 2013, was already stifling tears on the stand. Once the New York Knicks star entered the court room, though, Doe’s cries grew so loud jurors were unable to understand her testimony.
Judge asked her to speak more into the mic at one point, after a few jurors indicated they couldn't hear her through her sniffles & tears.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) October 6, 2016
During a subsequent break in the proceedings, one of Rose’s attorneys asked the judge if Doe was “going to cry all afternoon.” The honorable Michael W. Fitzgerald’s response, as recorded by Deadspin’s Diana Moskovitz, is indicative of the defense team’s hyper-aggressive approach in the court room.
“I’m not going to order a witness not to cry, any more than order her not to breathe.”
Fitzgerald also lambasted a Rose attorney for repeatedly interrupting Doe during cross examination.
Rose attorney Mark Baute came into conflict with Fitzgerald during cross examination as well, because Baute kept interrupting Doe’s answers. At one point, Fitzgerald lashed out. “Stop it! Are you incapable of letting the witness answer?”
The trial, which began on Oct. 4, will resume Friday with more cross examination of Doe by Rose’s attorneys. The Knicks will play a preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
(Via Deadspin)
