Patrick Kane Rape Allegation

[Josh]

Despite the ongoing case, Kane is expected to be at training camp according to the Blackhawks' official website:

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=779288

[Matt the Aussie]

Kinda disturbing. I had heard he was negotiating to, in essence, pay off the alleged victim - a cash settlement in return for not pursuing charges in court.

[Josh]

Kinda disturbing. I had heard he was negotiating to, in essence, pay off the alleged victim - a cash settlement in return for not pursuing charges in court.

That's strange to me. My understanding is that the matter can't be settled out of court because it's a criminal case rather than a civil one. However, I suppose if he pays her not to testify, then the criminal case wouldn't go very far. If a payout is her goal, wouldn't she be better off pursuing the criminal case and THEN bringing a civil suit? If the criminal case doesn't go through, a civil one still could while if he is criminally charged, at that point a civil case would be a shoe-in for her to win.

[Matt the Aussie]

I know in Australia (and I assume in Canada) the Crown doesn't care, they'd still prosecute and bring charges forth if they believed the crime took place. The system of District Attorneys works differently. A lot of them are publicly elected and they have "win-loss records" to keep up.

[Josh]

I know in Australia (and I assume in Canada) the Crown doesn't care, they'd still prosecute and bring charges forth if they believed the crime took place. The system of District Attorneys works differently. A lot of them are publicly elected and they have "win-loss records" to keep up.

How far can the crown even get though if the original complainant won't testify? Wouldn't it be then easy enough for the defendant to lie through their teeth, in the absence of anyone to say the contrary? Even if they had a rape kit as evidence, if the defendant claims it was consensual, there's no one to say otherwise and an absence of testimony from the complainant could be used to suggest their dishonesty.

I think that if it gets settled and she refuses to testify, he'll get off. But it doesn't seem like a payday is her motive and that she intends to see justice done. If he's guilty and she doesn't want his money I think he'll have the book thrown at him.

[Josh]

Wow, this just took another crazy turn:

http://www.cbc.ca/m/sports/hockey/nhl/patrick-kane-case-lawyer-alleged-victim-claims-tampering-1.3240463

[Matt the Aussie]

That's just sick.

Not saying Kane or anyone on his side was behind it, but whoever did this is a real piece of work.

[Josh]

That's just sick.

Not saying Kane or anyone on his side was behind it, but whoever did this is a real piece of work.

And now the case is pretty much moot as far as I can tell. The evidence was said to originally exonerate Kane, but now it won't be admissible at all. This woman just went through a rape kit that is completely invalid and there's no evidence to tie Kane to any allegations. If he is innocent, he also can no longer prove it.

So if he's guilty, justice won't be served. If he's innocent, he'll always have it hanging over his head.

Just a terrible situation for everyone involved at this point.

[Jasmine]

In a shocking twist in a saga full of them, the lawyer for the accuser in the Patrick Kane sexual abuse investigation suddenly stepped down Thursday night after citing doubts about how a rape kit evidence bag ended up on his desk.

“I no longer have confidence in the circumstances in which the bag was found,” Eoannou told reporters during a hastily-called press conference in the Buffalo area Thursday night. “I do not believe the version of events in which I received the bag. I lack confidence in the story that was told to me and I have an ethical obligation to withdraw.

“I do not believe this version of the story is accurate,” he added.

Just one day earlier, Eoannou announced in front of a gaggle of reporters the discovery of the bag at the mother’s home, causing national speculation that evidence had been tampered with.

Now, given the fact that Eoannou is walking away, the ensuing optics certainly would seem to damage the credibilty of the accuser’s case, even though the lawyer stressed that he still believes the victim’s initial story.

Kane is being investigated for an incident on Aug. 2 at his lakefront home in the town of Hamburg, just southwest of Buffalo. He has not been charged.

-taken from an article on the Ottawa Sun's page

This is messy.

[Josh]

This is messy.

Oh boy. This IS messy. Smart money would say he was paid off, that Kane's camp faked the bag, or both. This is just another situation where we'll never know the full truth, in my opinion. If he'd guilty I hope justice is served to him in one form or another. If he's innocent, I hope justice is served to her in one form or another.

[Jasmine]

Report: Patrick Kane’s accuser ‘no longer wants to cooperate’ in investigation

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/report-patrick-kanes-accuser-no-longer-wants-to-cooperate-in-investigation/

[Josh]

Report: Patrick Kane’s accuser ‘no longer wants to cooperate’ in investigation

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/re...investigation/

If she fabricated the whole story, then she should be ashamed of herself. She should be held responsible for her actions if that's the case.

[thedaigle1]

If she fabricated the whole story, then she should be ashamed of herself. She should be held responsible for her actions if that's the case.

AHHHH JOSH NO! Way too early to jump to these conclusions. We really don't want to risk shaming the victim. My first reaction when I heard that she was dropping the case was that the defense and the media had gotten to her. I'm all for innocent until proven guilty but it's not like Kane has a squeaky clean track record. If this woman was assaulted then I really just want to see justice served and I hope the authorities get this right for the sake of all those involved.

[Matt the Aussie]

Regardless of whether it happened or not, if she's not co-operating it will be very hard to take this to trial.

[Josh]

AHHHH JOSH NO! Way too early to jump to these conclusions. We really don't want to risk shaming the victim. My first reaction when I heard that she was dropping the case was that the defense and the media had gotten to her. I'm all for innocent until proven guilty but it's not like Kane has a squeaky clean track record. If this woman was assaulted then I really just want to see justice served and I hope the authorities get this right for the sake of all those involved.

Agreed. I just said that IF she fabricated it she should be held accountable.