Males accused of raping LSU scholar Madison Brooks declare video they took of her proves their innocence
An lawyer for 2 males accused of raping a Lousiana State College scholar earlier than dropping her off on a roadway the place she was later fatally struck by a automotive has claimed that video of the alleged sexual assault proves she was in a “coherent state” and consented to the acts.
Madison Brooks, 19, died on 15 January after a automobile hit her whereas she was standing in a darkish roadway in Baton Rouge. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Workplace has since arrested four men for allegedly raping or witnessing the rape of Brooks before dropping her off near the site of the crash.
Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who was not recognized as a result of he’s a minor are going through third-degree rape within the heinous case, whereas, Mr Washington’s uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, had been charged with principal to rape, an arrest warrant obtained by KSLA acknowledged.
Ron Haley, an lawyer for Mr Washington and the minor, has challenged the costs, claiming that video of the incident confirmed Brooks “was intoxicated” however to not level that she couldn’t “lawfully give consent or reply questions” throughout intercourse with the suspects. Mr Haley stated she exited the automobile after an “argument.”
“Completely not a rape. Pay attention it is a tragedy, undoubtedly not against the law,” Mr Haley advised KSLA. “Are you able to inform, that she was intoxicated, sure. To the purpose below the regulation that you simply say you’re in a drunken stupor, to the purpose that you simply can not lawfully give consent or reply questions, completely that was not the case.”
Mr Haley additionally stated that Brooks allegedly advised the suspects that she was going to order an Uber after an argument unfolded.
“Primarily based on a disagreement, she received out of the automobile. She indicated she was getting an Uber,” Mr Haley alleged. “I need the general public to know, these younger males or actually the driving force of the automobile and the younger males that had been in there, didn’t put her off on the facet of the highway.”
Brooks’ blood alcohol stage was 4 occasions the authorized restrict on the time of her loss of life.
Based on investigators, the sufferer and the 4 suspects met at a bar on 14 January earlier than she allegedly requested them to drop her off. Mr Carver advised authorities that Mr Washington and the unidentified minor requested the sufferer to have intercourse with them however admitted she was intoxicated, stumbling and slurring her phrases.
After the assault, the boys dropped her off in a neighbourhood close to Pelican Lakes Parkway. Whereas standing in a darkish portion of the roadway round 3am, Brooks was hit by a automobile and died hours later within the hospital.
Footage from the bar seized by investigators reportedly confirmed her falling a number of occasions in entrance of no less than one of many suspects earlier than they left the enterprise.
Mr Carver advised police that Brooks was “very unstable on her ft, was not in a position to preserve her stability, and was unable to talk clearly with out slurring her phrases.”
Regardless of her state of intoxication, two of the suspects proceeded to have intercourse along with her contained in the automotive, Mr Carver advised police. He later stated that he “felt uncomfortable and hated it.”
When requested by investigators if he believed Brooks was too impaired to consent, Mr Carver reportedly stated, “I assume.”
An post-mortem confirmed that Brooks had accidents according to a sexual assault assault, the warrant acknowledged.
LSU President William F Tate stated that the college plans to analyze why the institution the place the sufferer met the suspects was serving alcohol to minors.
“Madison was a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, a niece, a classmate, and a buddy to lots of you. By all accounts, she was an incredible younger lady with limitless potential,” Mr Tate stated in an announcement.
“She shouldn’t have been taken from us on this manner. What occurred to her was evil, and our authorized system will parcel out justice.”
He continued: “Within the coming days, we are going to name a gathering with these enterprise homeowners to debate how their tasks immediately affect the security of our college students. We’ll work brazenly towards any enterprise that doesn’t be a part of us in efforts towards making a safer atmosphere for our college students. Sufficient is sufficient.”
Brooks was a member of LSU’s Alpha Phi chapter. A put up on the group’s Facebook page acknowledged that a few of her organs had been donated.
“Madison … made a long-lasting affect on all of us. She was additionally a hero and was in a position to donate her coronary heart and kidneys to save lots of others,” the put up learn.
“We ship our deepest sympathies to her household and mates throughout this extremely tough time. And we respectfully ask for time and house so we might assist one another in our therapeutic course of.”