Thoughts on the Jameis Winston case

[Tizu]

DNA matches Winston

This in no way proves a sexual assault, just that he likely had sex with the woman/women. There are also reports that a victim was pressured by an investigator to not pursue charges, that if she did "her life could be made miserable".

[Ken D]

Nov 21, 2013 7:50:55 GMT -5 Tizu said:

DNA matches Winston

This in no way proves a sexual assault, just that he likely had sex with the woman/women. There are also reports that a victim was pressured by an investigator to not pursue charges, that if she did "her life could be made miserable".

So what was the status of the claim that the woman described her attacker as being between 5'9" and 5'11"? Was that just made up? Is she saying that she had specifically identified Winston to the Tallahassee police? If not, what would have led them to him in the first place?

This case is squirrelly from the get go. Why now? I'm leaving my mind open on this, but the prosecution looks like it would have a hard time overcoming reasonable doubt after all this time.

[Ken D]

I'm troubled by statements made by an attorney representing the complainant in this case. I'm reluctant to describe her as the "victim" based on these comments.

First of all, I don't believe it is common practice for a victim to be represented by an attorney in a criminal case. Civil, yes, criminal, no. This attorney has stated that it has never been the intention of her family "for this to become public". Does that mean that her intent from the beginning was to seek civil damages from Winston? That rings even more hollow to me when she did not name Winston as her assailant until about a month after the incident. If she didn't know him at the time she filed the initial report in early December, how was she subsequently able to identify him by name in January? Did police identify him as a suspect? How?

Keep in mind that, for most of the nation outside of Tallahassee, Winston did not have much notoriety as an athlete in December 2012. He was redshirted as a freshman football player, and baseball season was only just beginning. Was her family, who live in Tampa, aware of his earning potential as they decided on their course of action? Police say they classified the case as "inactive" when, and because, the woman stopped cooperating. By this time she already had an attorney who was pressuring them to obtain Winston's DNA for evidence. It isn't clear whether they tried to do that but were rebuffed, or whether they never tried in the first place.

If it's the latter, then the woman would have little leverage for a civil suit. The notoriety of a championship race and a Heisman race would certainly restore leverage to her. But if it's just monetary compensation she's looking for, you don't get that leverage by going public. You get it by the threat of going public.

So there's a lot here that just doesn't add up for me - some in the woman's favor, some in Winston's. But no matter the outcome, the Tallahassee Police Department isn't coming out of this unscathed.

[Marty Da Hungry Wolf]

Sorry, but I'm just so damned jaded to stuff like this anymore.

All either one of them care about is his potential future money.

Yeah, yeah, I know - save it, I've got two daughters myself. If she couldn't identify, or "mis-identified" her "assailant", then there should be no case and she should be getting her ass whipped by her daddy for being that kind of girl. If, on the other hand, his "DNA" (cute) was found on her underwear, all that proves is that his DNA is on her underwear and, upon further examination at the local ER, if there was no "injury" medically observed guess who doesn't have a case?

Ken, as usual, you're all over it.

[Tizu]

Well, I guess we find out today at 2pm whether or not Winston will be charged. If he is charged, it is FSU's policy that he will not be able to play and will be suspended. The lead investigator has stated that the investigation is complete and there is nothing more to learn about the case. That is either good or bad...tough to say for sure...Guess we'll find out in a few hours.

[cvholt87]

@tomahawknation: Based on unredacted police report and other sources, I do not expect Jameis Winston to be charged Link

Sounds like she can't get her story straight...

[cvholt87]

@rand_Getlin: New details: Search warrants detail accusations against #FSU’s Jameis Winston. Link

[Tizu]

No charges being pursued...as I expected.

[Ken D]

Meggs handled himself well during the press conference. His office won't likely be criticized, though the Tallahassee Police Department might be.

[Marty Da Hungry Wolf]

The DA can only go on what the police give him, and they can only go on the evidence they turn up and the statements they're given. If there's any real change in her story at all, she's only got herself to blame.