Derrick Rose will take the stand and answer questions about his role in ongoing rape trial, a lawyer for the accuser said on Friday.
Rose, who appeared in the Los Angeles courtroom for his civil rape trial earlier this week, will be forced to answer questions about the case, in which an unnamed accuser is suing for $21.5 million in damages. The accuser, Jane Doe, says that Rose and two friends raped her in August of 2013.
On Friday, the Jane Doe’s lawyer made it clear the NBA star will be taking the stand after Rose’s defense finishes cross-examining his accuser in court, according to an ESPN report.
Attorney Waukeen McCoy said Rose would be the next witness in the lawsuit seeking $21.5 million in damages from the point guard for the New York Knicks.
The woman who accuses Rose and the friends of gang raping her was under tough cross-examination during her second day of testimony.
She said she sued Rose to hold him accountable and denied she is doing it for money.
Rose’s accuser took the stand on Friday and provided testimony about the rape, in which she claims Rose drugged and then raped her at his home. Rose and two friends — Ryan Allen and Randall Hampton — have denied the rape story, saying the sex was consensual.
As the trial continues, Rose’s availability for the Knicks’ preseason games remains up in the air.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said he is unsure whether Rose will play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Hornacek said the decision about whether to play or not will be Rose’s. The trial is expected to resume on Tuesday, and the Knicks have home games against the Nets on Saturday and the Washington Wizards on Monday.
“He has to take care of his business. If he’s got to stay there and get it done, go through that process and then come back, and be focused on basketball, it’s up to him,” Hornacek said. “We’re allowing him to take care of that. And when he comes back, we’ll be ready.”
Rose hasn’t publicly said anything about the case due to a gag order, but he’s used some unfortunate turns of phrase even when he hasn’t spoken about the trial itself. It will be interesting to see how he defends himself when he’s allowed to speak on the stand.
(ESPN)