Jury acquits New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers in assault and battery trial
3 min readJabrill Peppers, the safety for the New England Patriots, was acquitted on Friday in his assault and battery trial. The jury’s decision followed a week of testimony, with Peppers denying charges of choking and shoving his accuser, who had claimed that he assaulted her in his home in Braintree, Massachusetts.
The trial centered around an incident from October when the woman testified that Peppers grabbed her by the neck, slammed her against a wall, and pushed her down the stairs after another man repeatedly called her cellphone while they were in bed together. In his defense, Peppers testified that he believed the woman was attempting to ruin his career, claiming she fabricated the story to damage him, according to reports from The Boston Globe.
The prosecution presented several videos as evidence, showing Peppers asking the woman, who was naked, to leave his home after the alleged assault. The woman testified that Peppers filmed her while taunting her, even as she tried to gather her belongings and leave. Additionally, the police report from the October incident supported the woman’s story, noting that she had refused medical treatment at the hospital and was instead treated for her injuries at the house.
During her testimony, the woman appeared emotional as she recounted the alleged assault, describing how Peppers held her against the wall, with her feet off the ground. She said, “He grabbed me by the neck and slammed me against the wall.” Her description was consistent with the police report, which detailed the injuries she sustained.
Peppers’ defense attorney, Marc Brofsky, fiercely contested the woman’s account during cross-examination. He challenged the severity of her injuries and pointed out that the woman had filed a civil lawsuit against Peppers for $9.5 million, suggesting that she might be motivated by financial gain rather than seeking justice. Brofsky argued that the woman’s claim was an attempt to profit from the situation.
Peppers had been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list by the NFL on October 9, missing seven games as a result of the legal proceedings. The exempt list is typically used for players who are facing serious legal issues. The incident also put his football career on pause for several weeks, but now that the trial is over and he has been acquitted, Peppers is eligible to return to playing.
Peppers, in his third season with the Patriots, had signed an extension with the team earlier in the year. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and spent two seasons with the team before moving to the New York Giants, where he played for three seasons. After joining the Patriots, Peppers signed a contract extension that runs through 2027. His legal victory may help clear the way for him to return to football without the cloud of the trial hanging over him.
Despite the acquittal, the case is likely to have lasting consequences for Peppers both on and off the field. The civil lawsuit remains pending, and while the criminal charges have been dropped, the woman’s claim for financial damages will continue in court. The attention surrounding the case and its impact on his personal and professional life is sure to linger as Peppers looks to move forward.
The acquittal brings an end to the criminal trial, but Peppers will still need to address the civil suit in the coming months. As the case concludes, Peppers can now focus on his career with the Patriots, but the fallout from the incident may continue to affect him for some time. Whether or not this trial will have a lasting impact on his reputation and career remains to be seen, but for now, Peppers can resume his role as a player for the team, provided the civil case does not create further complications.
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