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Florida State University quarterback will not be charged with sexual assault Florida State University quarterback will not be charged with sexual assault
(35 minutes later)
The star quarterback of the top-ranked college football team in the US will not face prosecution for sexually assaulting a fellow student, a prosecutor in Florida announced on Thursday.The star quarterback of the top-ranked college football team in the US will not face prosecution for sexually assaulting a fellow student, a prosecutor in Florida announced on Thursday.
The decision by state attorney Willie Meggs not to charge Jameis Winston with sexual battery frees the player to continue his pursuit of the national championship with the Florida State Seminoles and the Heisman trophy for the best college athlete. The decision by state attorney Willie Meggs not to charge Jameis Winston with sexual battery frees the player to continue his pursuit of the national championship with the Florida State Seminoles and the Heisman trophy for the best college football athlete. But it will do little to dampen allegations of favouritism towards Winston by the Tallahassee police department, which was roundly criticised by the alleged victim’s family for quietly dropping the investigation after the incident a year ago.
But it will do little to dampen allegations of favouritism towards Winston by the Tallahassee police department, which was roundly criticised by the alleged victim’s family for quietly dropping the investigation after the incident a year ago.
At a lunchtime press conference, Meggs said his office had concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the case against Winston, 19.At a lunchtime press conference, Meggs said his office had concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the case against Winston, 19.
“We have a duty as prosecutors to only file those charges if we have a reasonable likelihood of a conviction. After reviewing all of the evidence in the case we did not feel that we could meet that burden,” he said.“We have a duty as prosecutors to only file those charges if we have a reasonable likelihood of a conviction. After reviewing all of the evidence in the case we did not feel that we could meet that burden,” he said.
His comments, however, appeared to include veiled criticism of the police investigation, which was put in inactive status earlier this year. Patricia Carroll, the woman’s lawyer, had accused detectives of withholding details from prosecutors between the December 2012 incident until November, when Winston’s alleged involvement was leaked to the media.His comments, however, appeared to include veiled criticism of the police investigation, which was put in inactive status earlier this year. Patricia Carroll, the woman’s lawyer, had accused detectives of withholding details from prosecutors between the December 2012 incident until November, when Winston’s alleged involvement was leaked to the media.
“Obviously it would have been somewhat better if we had all gotten involved a little earlier,” Meggs said. “Obviously it would have been somewhat better if we had all gotten involved a little earlier,” Meggs said. “We might have had some additional facts earlier, there might have been some better memories, I don’t know. Time is important but it certainly would have been nice to know all the things we know now back in December.”
“We might have had some additional facts earlier, there might have been some better memories, I don’t know. Time is important but it certainly would have been nice to know all the things we know now back in December.” Soon after Meggs’ press conference, Carroll released a statement on behalf of the woman. “The victim and her family appreciate the state attorney’s efforts in attempt to conduct a proper investigation after an inordinate delay by the Tallahassee police department,” she said.
Carroll released a statement on behalf of the woman soon after Meggs’ press conference. “The victim and her family appreciate the state attorney’s efforts in attempt to conduct a proper investigation after an inordinate delay by the Tallahassee police department,” she said.
“The victim in this case had the courage to immediately report her rape to the police and she relied upon them to seek justice. The victim has grave concerns that her experience, as it unfolded in public eye and through social media, will discourage other victims of rape from coming forward.”“The victim in this case had the courage to immediately report her rape to the police and she relied upon them to seek justice. The victim has grave concerns that her experience, as it unfolded in public eye and through social media, will discourage other victims of rape from coming forward.”
Meggs said that DNA samples proved that a “sexual event” had occurred between Winston and the woman but it was impossible to say if was an assault. “One party says it was not consensual, apparently the other side says it was. We did not feel we had sufficient evidence to prove it was not,” he said.Meggs said that DNA samples proved that a “sexual event” had occurred between Winston and the woman but it was impossible to say if was an assault. “One party says it was not consensual, apparently the other side says it was. We did not feel we had sufficient evidence to prove it was not,” he said.
He added that the female student, whose lawyer claimed last month that police advised her not to pursue the case against Winston “in a big football town”, suffered memory lapses that could have been problematic in court.He added that the female student, whose lawyer claimed last month that police advised her not to pursue the case against Winston “in a big football town”, suffered memory lapses that could have been problematic in court.
“Her recall of the events of that night have been moving around a good bit,” he said. “There were some memory lapses. It’s not inconsistencies, it’s lack of memory most of the time.”“Her recall of the events of that night have been moving around a good bit,” he said. “There were some memory lapses. It’s not inconsistencies, it’s lack of memory most of the time.”
Another issue, Meggs said, was that a rape kit used after the incident revealed the presence of DNA from two males, one matched to Winston by the Florida department of law enforcement last month after he gave a voluntary sample, and the other from the woman’s boyfriend at the time, who she refused to identify.Another issue, Meggs said, was that a rape kit used after the incident revealed the presence of DNA from two males, one matched to Winston by the Florida department of law enforcement last month after he gave a voluntary sample, and the other from the woman’s boyfriend at the time, who she refused to identify.
“We made every effort to identify the donor of that DNA and did so. There were several people in the room when this event occurred. They’ve all been questioned,” he said.“We made every effort to identify the donor of that DNA and did so. There were several people in the room when this event occurred. They’ve all been questioned,” he said.
Winston’s lawyer, Tim Jansen, said his client would appear at a press conference later on Thursday to give his reaction to the state attorney’s decision.Winston’s lawyer, Tim Jansen, said his client would appear at a press conference later on Thursday to give his reaction to the state attorney’s decision.
He had strongly denied assaulting the woman. “I don’t think it’s a secret what the defence is when I tell you that we are not surprised his DNA was found,” Jansen said last month.He had strongly denied assaulting the woman. “I don’t think it’s a secret what the defence is when I tell you that we are not surprised his DNA was found,” Jansen said last month.
Winston is the runaway favourite to win this year’s Heisman trophy, which will be announced on 14 December. Florida State University, which has won all 12 games so far this season, is set to challenge defending champions Alabama for the national title on 6 January. Winston is the runaway favourite to win this year’s Heisman trophy, which will be announced on 14 December. Florida State University, who have won all 12 games so far this season, are set to challenge defending champions Alabama for the national title on 6 January.
“Folks will have to draw their own conclusions about his character and whether he is worthy of these awards and things,” Meggs said. “Folks will have to draw their own conclusions about his character and whether he is worthy of these awards and things,” Meggs said. “We try to treat everyone the same and we have a record of doing that over the last 29 years that I’ve been state attorney. We prosecute if we have enough evidence and we’ll continue to do that.”
 “We try to treat everyone the same and we have a record of doing that over the last 29 years that I’ve been state attorney. We prosecute if we have enough evidence and we’ll continue to do that.”
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