Denver Post staff writer Lindsay H. Jones is in Atlanta covering the trial of Bronco Brandon Marshall on misdemeanor battery charges. She is filing updates with colleague Mike Klis.
The trial is the result of an alleged altercation between Marshall and Rasheedah Watley on March 4, 2008, in Marshall’s downtown condominium. The right-hand men of Roger Goodell, maybe even the commissioner himself, are sure to be paying attention. It’s possible a significant portion of Marshall’s 2009 season rests with the outcome of this trial.
12:50 p.m.: It’s all up to the jury to decide the fate of Brandon Marshall. The Broncos’ star receiver was on trial in Atlanta on a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend, Rasheedah Watley, in Atlanta on March 4, 2008.
Marshall’s attorney Harvey Steinberg delivered a 30-minute closing argument that focused on how the state did not provide sufficient enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client was guilty.
On the prosecution side, Jamie Mack replaced Robert Benbridge to deliver a 25-minute closing argument. Mack focused on how there was undisputed evidence of injuries as the seven pictures of Watley’s injuries were consistent with Watley’s testimony.
Mack then paid a backhanded compliment to Steinberg’s courtroom style by telling the jury: “Don’t be blinded by the smokescreen that has been presented to you.”
8:45 a.m.: The prosecution, or state, rested its case. Marshall’s attorney Harvey Steinberg called his first witness, officer Graves of the Denver police department. Graves was working off-duty at Denver International Airport at a time when Marshall and Watley were making a scene. Graves testified that Watley was the aggressor.
Under cross-examination by the prosecuting attorney, Graves said he did not witness any violent incidents.
Before the defense rested, Watley returned to the stand for another five minutes of questioning from Steinberg. Watley was asked about her relationship with Marshall’s mother.
“I felt like everyone in his family knew what he was doing,” Watley said. “I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t tell him to stop doing this to me.”
Amanda Planchard, director of victims assistance for the Fulton County Solicitor General’s Office, testified for 20 minutes about general domestic violence and cycle of violence.
7:30 a.m.: Rasheedah Watley, the star witness in the misdemeanor battery trial of Broncos’ receiver Brandon Marshall, stepped down from the witness stand following 23 minutes of testimony. She testified for nearly 2 hours to finish Thursday’s hearing.
The prosecution presented seven photos that showed injuries to Watley following two separate incidents involving Marshall. There were five photos from the March 4, 2008, incident at Marshall’s condo that led to the battery chargers against Marshall. The photos showed marks/abrasions to her mouth, forehead and neck. The two photos from an incident in June, 2007 showed a knife wound to her leg and a black eye.
During cross-examination, Harvey Steinberg, Marshall’s attorney, clearly flustered Watley by saying she was presenting these accusations against his client for money. He asked her why after such incidents she would not leave the Atlanta condo that Marshall owned. “I didn’t think it was fair,” Watley said. “I was getting beat up and kicked out once again.”
The next witness is a social worker/domestic violence expert called by the defense. The prosecution objected to the witness, but Judge John Mather allowed her.
6:00 a.m.: Brandon Marshall and his legal team have arrived at the courthouse in Atlanta for the second — and hopefully final — day of his trial on a misdemeanor battery charge.
The prosecution is expected to call at least one more witness today before turning the case over to Denver defense attorney Harvey Steinberg representing Marshall. The jury is expected to deliberate and return a verdict by the end of the day.
