Source: GBI drops Roethlisberger DNA request

[birtikidis]

NFL network reported that there was no DNA to compare it to (as it pertains to the case). that means that he didn't leave any with her when he walked out of the bathroom.

Allegedly when he left the bathroom.....and I am willing to bet there is no video tape that shows Ben leaving the woman's bathroom. And had there been...they would have made an arrest and filed charges against him.

Folks...they dont have a leg to stand on. And I want to start hearing the apologies. Start with the commissioner.

if there are no witnesses, semen or spit...then you must acquit.

hahaha damn that was funny.

[NJ-STEELER]

it wasn't the "women's bathroom"

allegedly, it was a locked private staff bathroom

[birtikidis]

Again.....they have no case.

They needed DNA that was their only shot and now they are saying they are no longer requesting it so that tells me they have no leg to stand on.

Enough of this garbage.

agree. that crap that the comish was spouting today on the NFL network p!ssed me off!

[hawaiiansteel]

Police: Roethlisberger's DNA not needed — no evidence to compare

By Carl Prine and Scott Brown,
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, March 23, 2010


MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger does not need to provide a DNA sample to Georgia authorities investigating allegations that he sexually assaulted a college student.

There's no DNA to compare.

Officials at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday confirmed that attorney Edward T.M. Garland of Atlanta offered to provide a sample of Roethlisberger's DNA in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 20-year-old student in a nightclub restroom early March 5. But police told the lawyer they didn't need it.

"Based on everything that I know and our own investigation, I believe that no charges should be filed in this case," said Garland, a highly regarded attorney.

"I have made it a policy not to comment on the facts of this case. I will adhere to that until this investigation runs its course or the authorities bring charges. We are continuing to inform the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and to cooperate with them in their investigation."

A team of GBI investigators is concentrating full-time on proving or refuting the George College & State University sophomore's allegations. She told Milledgeville police around 2:30 a.m. March 5 that Roethlisberger, 28, assaulted her in a small staff restroom near a "VIP" room in the Capital City dance club.

For three weeks, investigators have followed up leads that tied the woman to Roethlisberger at several bars and the nightclub from about 10 p.m. March 4. Roethlisberger owns a home about 30 miles away in Lake Oconee.

The Tribune-Review does not name alleged victims of sexual abuse. Shortly after Milledgeville police officers took her statement claiming that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her, the accuser was treated at Oconee Regional Medical Center and released.

Attorney Lee Parks of Atlanta, who represents the woman, did not return messages seeking comment.

The allegations emerged as Roethlisberger fights a rape allegation filed in Nevada civil court by a female hotel worker in Lake Tahoe. Roethlisberger, who was not charged with a crime, publicly denied any wrongdoing in that case.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials decline to discuss details of the Milledgeville case, until District Attorney Fred Bright decides whether to prosecute or punt.

GBI Inspector Sherry Lang said the Roethlisberger investigation is an "active case" and they're not trying to convict Roethlisberger or exonerate him.

"We're fact finders," she said. "The truth is that facts lead us to some things and other facts lead us to another thing. But we're in the business of fact finding."

A lack of DNA evidence doesn't necessarily mean a sexual assault didn't occur, but it removes potentially key pieces of evidence for a prosecution.

"We can infer, with some certainty, that they have nothing at all that would be male ejaculate, semen, that would be a stain on clothing or any swabs taken from the lady," said famed Squirrel Hill forensic pathologist Dr Cyril Wecht. "Remember Monica Lewinsky's dress? We don't have that kind of thing now.

"Now, medically and legally, this doesn't mean that rape or another form of assault didn't take place. But in the absence of DNA, if they did the proper workup, it markedly could weaken what was a case."

A lack of scientific evidence could hurt later at a trial, said Loyola Marymount law professor Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor.

"We're living in the generation that watches 'CSI' on television," Levenson said. "They've grown to expect that there will be physical evidence."

In the wake of false sexual assault accusations against the Duke lacrosse team and other high-profile cases, Levenson said prosecutors are prudent to take their time and "answer all the key questions that remain."

"Look, these cases often come down to 'he said' and 'she said.' It's often difficult for jurors in those kinds of cases to know what to believe," said Levenson, who teaches legal ethics. "That doesn't mean that a crime didn't take place. It just means that sorting through the evidence can be difficult for people, and this is complicated when there's the presence of a celebrity."

Roethlisberger's attorney Garland predicts his client will be cleared.

"Pittsburgh's citizens should know that I fully intend to watch Ben continue to play football this season, hopefully with him in the Super Bowl," he said.

The Steelers aren't quite as sure.

"We're in a wait-and-see mode like everyone else," coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at the National Football League owners' meetings in Orlando.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he plans to meet with Roethlisberger. He said the NFL is concerned "that Ben keeps putting himself in this position."

The NFL's personal conduct policy allows Goodell to suspend players, order them to seek treatment, or both — even if they have not committed a crime.

Tomlin said Roethlisberger's predicament is particularly disappointing for the Steelers.

"I think it's well known that we're very, very conscious about how we do business, that we're very highly concerned about our image, perception, how we conduct ourselves, our standards of conduct," Tomlin said. "I think it's above and beyond that of our peers, and we embrace that."

Tomlin said he stays in daily contact with Roethlisberger, who is keeping a low-profile in Pittsburgh.

Tomlin declined to discuss the nature of their conversations.

[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_673061.html"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 73061.html[/url]

[Dee Dub]

no one is apologizing.. what is there to apologize for? What does the commissioner have to apologize for? The headlines went out and the machine moved like they always do when a well known figure is accused of doing something like this.

If false, the girl needs to apologize and we go back to business as usual. Ben is still guilty of bringing drama to the team whether innocent or not. It's the price you pay for fame. Young girls and old skanks will always try to get Ben's money... he has to change his ways or it will happen again. Hell, he needs to operate like it will happen again.

Well if this turns out to be B.S. and Ben didnt do anything wrong how can the commissioner say that he is concerned why Ben keeps putting himself in these positions? In fact he did every thing right. He had body guards who were off duty policemen. Is he not allowed to enjoy his life? And the second case...civil suit he was at a hotel for a charity function. And that woman is trying to gain financially over it...and never went to the police to file criminal charges.

[Sugar]

no one is apologizing.. what is there to apologize for? What does the commissioner have to apologize for? The headlines went out and the machine moved like they always do when a well known figure is accused of doing something like this.

If false, the girl needs to apologize and we go back to business as usual. Ben is still guilty of bringing drama to the team whether innocent or not. It's the price you pay for fame. Young girls and old skanks will always try to get Ben's money... he has to change his ways or it will happen again. Hell, he needs to operate like it will happen again.

Well if this turns out to be B.S. and Ben didnt do anything wrong how can the commissioner say that he is concerned why Ben keeps putting himself in these positions? In fact he did every thing right. He had body guards who were off duty policemen. Is he not allowed to enjoy his life? And the second case...civil suit he was at a hotel for a charity function. And that woman is trying to gain financially over it...and never went to the police to file criminal charges.

It seems to me that BB has taken certain precautions against this kind of thing. That doesn't mean that it still can't happen. So is the guy no longer allowed to go to a bar? No longer allowed to party? Does he need to hire a 3rd bodyguard? Perhaps he should get a waiver signed every time he meets a chick?

Whatever.

[papillon]

That is great news.

Yes, it is, he's still a meat head though. I hope the Rooneys fine his @$$ and suspend him for a few games. Hew needs to have some consequence from this if this latest piece of information means that there is nothing to pursue.

Pappy

[Iron Shiek]

NFL network reported that there was no DNA to compare it to (as it pertains to the case). that means that he didn't leave any with her when he walked out of the bathroom.

Allegedly when he left the bathroom.....and I am willing to bet there is no video tape that shows Ben leaving the woman's bathroom. And had there been...they would have made an arrest and filed charges against him.

Folks...they dont have a leg to stand on. And I want to start hearing the apologies. Start with the commissioner.

no one is apologizing.. what is there to apologize for? What does the commissioner have to apologize for? The headlines went out and the machine moved like they always do when a well known figure is accused of doing something like this.

If false, the girl needs to apologize and we go back to business as usual. Ben is still guilty of bringing drama to the team whether innocent or not. It's the price you pay for fame. Young girls and old skanks will always try to get Ben's money... he has to change his ways or it will happen again. Hell, he needs to operate like it will happen again.

Exactly. The commissioner answered one question about Big Ben and didn't even say anything of much substance other than "I'll talk to him when the proper time comes" and all of sudden its a lead story and every analyst is dissecting what he meant by that. Proposterous. Waste of air (H20 and television)...might as well put WNBA on instead of that garbage.

[BURGH86STEEL]

no one is apologizing.. what is there to apologize for? What does the commissioner have to apologize for? The headlines went out and the machine moved like they always do when a well known figure is accused of doing something like this.

If false, the girl needs to apologize and we go back to business as usual. Ben is still guilty of bringing drama to the team whether innocent or not. It's the price you pay for fame. Young girls and old skanks will always try to get Ben's money... he has to change his ways or it will happen again. Hell, he needs to operate like it will happen again.

Well if this turns out to be B.S. and Ben didnt do anything wrong how can the commissioner say that he is concerned why Ben keeps putting himself in these positions? In fact he did every thing right. He had body guards who were off duty policemen. Is he not allowed to enjoy his life? And the second case...civil suit he was at a hotel for a charity function. And that woman is trying to gain financially over it...and never went to the police to file criminal charges.

He invited people he did not know into his private party. That's only one way to look at the situation. Ben is not the average Joe any longer. There are better and smarter ways to enjoy life without putting a career on the line. Ben better be more careful regardless of how this shakes out. One more mistake of this magnitude and I believe the Steelers will look to release or trade him.

[TallyStiller]

Ben has a $100 million contract. Hire a freaking hooker, pay a porn star, whatever, and party all you want behind the gate of your lakefront compound... but stop calling 20 year old sorority girls "bitches" and telling them to "take your shots" and locking them in bathrooms with your body guards outside and such. Probably a decent start to getting back out of the commish's doghouse.