I guess we should all be/get ready for the Ray Lewis murder case stories for the next 2 weeks...

[Raveninwoodlawn]

It's starting unfortunately....

[NCRAVEN]

How do you know when they've got nothing else to talk about? They bring up 14 year old stories.

Anyone who thinks the media has any ounce of credibility, look no further than this. I will not pay one second of attention to it.

[Hammerhead]

F that. We shouldn't answer any questions about this story. The story is old and has no bearing on the game two Sundays from now.

As an attorney and a former federal prosecutor, I can tell you that the case brought by the Atlanta DA was tremendously weak from an evidentiary standpoint. They had nothing. The trial turned out to be a complete joke. The DA got nowhere with their line of questioning. Their star witnesses were all completely drunk at the time of the incident and had credibility issues. Nobody could put Ray anywhere near that altercation.

Having spoken to ADAs who worked in the Atlanta DA's office at the time, they told me that they were most upset that Ray didn't cooperate. They didn't really think he was their guy, but they charged him to pressure him. Why they didn't press an obstruction of justice charge or pursue an accessory theory (as opposed to the theory they did pursue) is beyond me. But lots of folks seemed to want to make their name prosecuting a star NFL linebacker. They just forgot a pesky little think we call "evidence."

From a legal standpoint, Ray got convicted of the thing he was guilty of -- obstruction of justice. He had nothing to do with the murders themselves. If anybody actually looked at the evidence, they would know that.

Ironically, if you remember, shortly after Ray's arrest, the Atlanta DA and the mayor of Atlanta gave a press conference in which they said that the evidence was solid and that Ray and his entourage entered their limo that night "literally dripping with blood." Of the mayor of Atlanta and the people charged in that case, you know who the only person is who actually was convicted of a felony and served jail time?

Bonus points to you if you said, "The Mayor of Atlanta" (Bill Campbell).

This is a non-story. We shouldn't give it legs by answering questions about it.

[lovefootball]

Ray Lewis murdered someone, do not believe he was found guilty of anything.If anything he pleaded guilty to some minor charge.
Will the media bring up BR two rape accusations when it comes time for him to retire? Any mention of the sports analyst Irving and his cocaine binges.
Ray Lewis will turn the other cheek and respond as necessary. He's man enough to answer whatever he wants. If not, maybe he should hire Brian Billick to be his response man. Brian handled it once before.Ravens should set limits on what questions will be allowed and how often a certain question can be ask.
Sad the media cheapens this moment in Ray's life, he has already put it behind him. He has accomplished more on and off the field since that year.

[Hammerhead]

Ray Lewis murdered someone, do not believe he was found guilty of anything.If anything he pleaded guilty to some minor charge.
Will the media bring up BR two rape accusations when it comes time for him to retire? Any mention of the sports analyst Irving and his cocaine binges.
Ray Lewis will turn the other cheek and respond as necessary. He's man enough to answer whatever he wants. If not, maybe he should hire Brian Billick to be his response man. Brian handled it once before.Ravens should set limits on what questions will be allowed and how often a certain question can be ask.
Sad the media cheapens this moment in Ray's life, he has already put it behind him. He has accomplished more on and off the field since that year.

Ray Lewis didn't murder anyone. Even if you take off the purple colored glasses, it is clear that two hangers on in a large entourage got into a fight with the two victims. They brandished knives and stabbed them to death. While this was going on, Ray Lewis was in the limousine waiting to depart the Buckhead area.

Once he found out there had been a fight (unclear if he knew two people had died), he urged everyone to keep quiet (not a good thing and certainly a crime). As a result, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge, testified against the two principal defendants, was put on probation, paid a fine and was suspended four games by the NFL.

Let's be clear about the facts. If anybody wants to know what Ray Lewis did or saw that night, they should get the transcript from the Atlanta trial court. Ray shouldn't answer any more questions about this incident right now.

[HoustonRaven]

Ray Lewis murdered someone, do not believe he was found guilty of anything.If anything he pleaded guilty to some minor charge.
Will the media bring up BR two rape accusations when it comes time for him to retire? Any mention of the sports analyst Irving and his cocaine binges.
Ray Lewis will turn the other cheek and respond as necessary. He's man enough to answer whatever he wants. If not, maybe he should hire Brian Billick to be his response man. Brian handled it once before.Ravens should set limits on what questions will be allowed and how often a certain question can be ask.
Sad the media cheapens this moment in Ray's life, he has already put it behind him. He has accomplished more on and off the field since that year.

See folks, it's posts like this why Ray should and is willing to talk about it.

He was just on ESPN this morning and he's open to discussing it. There's going to be a couple of features with him, being interviewed by Sal Palentonio, where he goes into detail.

There's nothing to hide. And I hate using this term, but it's a teachable moment and Ray seems very willing to talk about it.

Kudos to Ray for dealing with it again and shame on those who still believe this nonsense when the case facts have been out there for over a decade for everyone to read.

I expect posts like this from Steelers fans, not from his own fan base.

[ballhawk]

Its a redemption story. How a young man, hanging with the wrong crowd and putting himself in compromising situations, was forced to see the error of his ways and turned his life around. No rational person actually thinks he killed anybody. And Ray has already gotten out in front of it. He speaks about it with Sal Palaontonio on ESPN on this coming Sunday. I saw excerpts of the interview yesterday. Its OK that this will be brought up because their will be young people out there who will hear Ray talk about it and be touched by it, hopefully changing their lives for the better. Last SB Ray wouldn't talk about it, this one he is going to use his experience to try to help people.

[lovefootball]

Ray Lewis didn't murder anyone. Even if you take off the purple colored glasses, it is clear that two hangers on in a large entourage got into a fight with the two victims. They brandished knives and stabbed them to death. While this was going on, Ray Lewis was in the limousine waiting to depart the Buckhead area.

Once he found out there had been a fight (unclear if he knew two people had died), he urged everyone to keep quiet (not a good thing and certainly a crime). As a result, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge, testified against the two principal defendants, was put on probation, paid a fine and was suspended four games by the NFL.

Let's be clear about the facts. If anybody wants to know what Ray Lewis did or saw that night, they should get the transcript from the Atlanta trial court. Ray shouldn't answer any more questions about this incident right now.

Hell Ray did what any high paid lawyer would have told his clients. Now days, at a traffic accident, insurance companies will tell you not to say anything to the police. Don't admit anything. BR friends kept quiet and that problem resulted in no charges(helps to be friends with the po-po). All that evidence got handled well by the bar.

[iggyman555]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...p-murder-case/

[esmd]

I think lovefootball's post is being misunderstood. I think he/she worded it wrong in that first sentence, but I think he/she is saying that Ray didn't murder anyone. Almost as if he meant to put a question mark after the first three words of his post.

Anyway, I agree with Hammerhead, but I think it'll be smart on Ray's part to get out in front of it and do an exclusive with Sal Pal or another reporter. Do one in-depth interview, and then refer all other questioners to see that.

[Phantoom]

Odd that people are surprised, especially on a forum where I see Big Ben referred to as "Rapesburger" regularly.

[bpmurr]

F that. We shouldn't answer any questions about this story. The story is old and has no bearing on the game two Sundays from now.

As an attorney and a former federal prosecutor, I can tell you that the case brought by the Atlanta DA was tremendously weak from an evidentiary standpoint. They had nothing. The trial turned out to be a complete joke. The DA got nowhere with their line of questioning. Their star witnesses were all completely drunk at the time of the incident and had credibility issues. Nobody could put Ray anywhere near that altercation.

Having spoken to ADAs who worked in the Atlanta DA's office at the time, they told me that they were most upset that Ray didn't cooperate. They didn't really think he was their guy, but they charged him to pressure him. Why they didn't press an obstruction of justice charge or pursue an accessory theory (as opposed to the theory they did pursue) is beyond me. But lots of folks seemed to want to make their name prosecuting a star NFL linebacker. They just forgot a pesky little think we call "evidence."

From a legal standpoint, Ray got convicted of the thing he was guilty of -- obstruction of justice. He had nothing to do with the murders themselves. If anybody actually looked at the evidence, they would know that.

Ironically, if you remember, shortly after Ray's arrest, the Atlanta DA and the mayor of Atlanta gave a press conference in which they said that the evidence was solid and that Ray and his entourage entered their limo that night "literally dripping with blood." Of the mayor of Atlanta and the people charged in that case, you know who the only person is who actually was convicted of a felony and served jail time?

Bonus points to you if you said, "The Mayor of Atlanta" (Bill Campbell).

This is a non-story. We shouldn't give it legs by answering questions about it.

Yeah I don't understand why people think just because the Government charges you with something you're guilty. You hear countless stories of people who did nothing wrong being convicted and those who did wrong going free. People need to look at the actual details but in today's short attention span society nobody wants to take the time to learn the facts. It's pretty sad.

[bacchys]

Ray Lewis didn't murder anyone. Even if you take off the purple colored glasses, it is clear that two hangers on in a large entourage got into a fight with the two victims. They brandished knives and stabbed them to death. While this was going on, Ray Lewis was in the limousine waiting to depart the Buckhead area.

What also came out during the trial was the victims were the aggressors in the whole affair. The knives were brandished after one of Lewis's codefendants was bashed on the head by a bottle and another member of the victims' party announced he was getting his gun.

The gun-getter was given immunity for his testimony by the prosecution despite admitting to firing a pistol down a crowded city street after Lewis's limo.

I don't have a problem with people discussing the case. I have a problem when they discuss it inaccurately, which seems invariably to be the case. The prosecutors dropped the murder charges against Lewis because the evidence didn't support those charges. The jury acquitted his codefendants because the evidence didn't support that murder had taken place that night.

[Raven 555]

Ray has already answered all the questions in his interview. He doesn't need our help. The only way to respond, is not too. The trolls will get tired and go away.

[Greg]

What also came out during the trial was the victims were the aggressors in the whole affair. The knives were brandished after one of Lewis's codefendants was bashed on the head by a bottle and another member of the victims' party announced he was getting his gun.

The gun-getter was given immunity for his testimony by the prosecution despite admitting to firing a pistol down a crowded city street after Lewis's limo.

I don't have a problem with people discussing the case. I have a problem when they discuss it inaccurately, which seems invariably to be the case. The prosecutors dropped the murder charges against Lewis because the evidence didn't support those charges. The jury acquitted his codefendants because the evidence didn't support that murder had taken place that night.

I have never done this.

THIS ^ .

Nicely and succinctly put. If you study the evidence it appears what most likely happened is the group the dead guys were in initiated violence and those two ended up stabbed in what is probably self-defense.

There were two mistakes on Ray and his group's part. First, getting out of the limo because they were being yelled at by some passers by. They were all ready to leave and I guess felt insulted or "disrespected" so they got out. After some words out comes the champagne bottle to the head. The next mistake was Ray's, telling people to keep quiet. He should have gotten out of the area since they were being shot at and gotten to a phone and called police.

[Everything_Ravens]

See folks, it's posts like this why Ray should and is willing to talk about it.

He was just on ESPN this morning and he's open to discussing it. There's going to be a couple of features with him, being interviewed by Sal Palentonio, where he goes into detail.

There's nothing to hide. And I hate using this term, but it's a teachable moment and Ray seems very willing to talk about it.

Kudos to Ray for dealing with it again and shame on those who still believe this nonsense when the case facts have been out there for over a decade for everyone to read.

I expect posts like this from Steelers fans, not from his own fan base.

Wow...well said!

this has got to be the first time that i have agreed with something you have said from top to bottom lol

[Justlovemybirds]

My hope is that Ray's willingness to discuss the case will put to rest some of the misguided notions held by the public of what went down that night, but I won't hold my breath.

[B-more Ravor]

I don't have a problem with people discussing the case. I have a problem when they discuss it inaccurately, which seems invariably to be the case. The prosecutors dropped the murder charges against Lewis because the evidence didn't support those charges. The jury acquitted his codefendants because the evidence didn't support that murder had taken place that night.

Well put. As long as it's accurately reported - and it too often isn't - no one should really have a problem with it.

[2gigch1]

This will be the last big time he (and we) will have to deal with this story. Speak with most anyone outside of Raven's country and you will discover most people think he is a murderer who got away with it. Until now the Ravens (and Ray) have not been in a big enough spotlight to correct this misperception.

I think it's a good thing in a way. Now you have the largest stage, and a captive audience. The story will have a chance of being corrected once and for all, and then one way or another, it will begin to fade away after the game. The national view of the Ravens as thugs may soften, the perception of Baltimore from this and series like The Wire can moderate a bit, and we can all move along.

Everyone here has made good points, but the reality is people from all around the country have not been properly informed as to the facts. Ray himself, recently asked about the path of his life said "I would not change a thing." He believes he was tested for a reason, to change him from 'a guy with a checkered past' to 'a guy with a mission.' As far as he's concerned even this is a chance to do some good on the big stage.

Here's the opportunity, and that's good. We'll get through it, and as a knowledgeable fan, enjoy the thought that you were right long before the rest of the nation.

[lovefootball]

Wow...well said!

this has got to be the first time that i have agreed with something you have said from top to bottom lol

Except he must not have read my whole post. Yea, a question mark may may have been missing. Ray was never convicted of murder. Ray did learn and has been a contibutor on the field and off the field.. I am a fan of football and Ray Lewis. Not a fan of people who cannot understand a post that was defending Ray Lewis. Read the whole post next time.