The civil suit against Derrick Rose for the alleged rape of a former girlfriend has been a twisted, sordid mess of accusations and recriminations, but after three hours and 45 minutes of deliberations following the conclusion of the trial on Tuesday, the jury has returned a verdict of not liable on all counts. Rose is now free to return to basketball activities with the Knicks after missing much of training camp and the preseason.
The plaintiff, whose identity has been protected under the alias “Jane Doe” throughout the proceedings, accused Rose and two of his friends – Randall Hampton and Ryan Allen – of gang-raping her one night in Los Angeles in 2013. Rose and his team have insisted that the encounter was consensual and that the charges were nothing more than a brazen attempt on Doe’s part to extort money from the former NBA All-Star. Doe was seeking $21.5 million in the suit.
Not liable on all counts.
— Nancy Dillon (@Nancy__Dillon) October 19, 2016
Derrick Rose and codefendants are cleared of all charges in rape case #Doevrose @nypost
— Julia Marsh (@juliakmarsh) October 19, 2016
Rose kept his eyes down & hugged attorney after the verdict was read. The accuser kept her head buried in her hands in a prayer position.
— Julia Marsh (@juliakmarsh) October 19, 2016
Rose’s team motioned for a mistrial last week after Doe’s lawyers failed to provide what the defense called key text messages that could help exonerate him, but judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ultimately denied that request. As the trial progressed, it featured testimony from multiple parties, both directly and tangentially involved, often including graphic details about the night in question, along with Rose’s rather curious admission during pre-trial testimony that he didn’t have a firm grasp on the meaning of “consent.”
Despite the outcome, Rose still could face criminal charges, a possibility floated by the LAPD late last month. In the meantime, Rose will rejoin the Knicks as the centerpiece of a revamped core the franchise hopes will carry them back into respectability this season.
Mark Baute, Derrick's lawyer, said they won't say the plaintiff's name because "Rape Shield Law matters" and blasted media coverage.
— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) October 19, 2016
After the trial, jurors decided to take pictures with Rose which is a totally normal and not at all disturbing thing to do following the end of a sexual assault trial:
Don't see this every day. @drose and atty posing with giddy jurors after verdict. #DoevRose pic.twitter.com/hbmxnPnyf6
— Joel Rubin (@joelrubin) October 19, 2016
The New York Post had some extra details following the verdict:
The basketball player kept his eyes down and hugged his attorney after the verdict was read. His accuser kept her head buried in her hands in a prayer position.
“Best wishes,” Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald told Rose. “Except when the Knicks play the Lakers,” he joked.
In a statement, Rose said he’s “thankful” for the verdict, and eager to put the trial behind him.
“It was important to prove I did not do what I was accused of, even if it meant publicly sharing very private details about my personal life,” he said. “I am thankful that the jury understood and agreed with me. This experience and my sensitivity to it was deep. I am ready to put this behind me and focus on my family and career.”
