http://gty.im/494337010
Case Closed
For three months, Patrick Kane has been under a microscope.
Every move that he, or the Blackhawks have made have been watched carefully, and judged harshly.
None of the involved parties will leave this behind without some significant scars. The alleged victim will always be associated with this mess, no matter which side people take. Kane will forever be heckled as he visits other arenas, and will have to work tirelessly to repair the damage the case has done to his reputation.
https://twitter.com/nhlnewsooyuz/status/656765942593146880
Even the Chicago Blackhawks will have to deal with the shade that will continue to be cast in their direction. All of this would have been true, no matter what the outcome had been.
However, yesterday the Erie County District Attorney, Frank Sedita, ruled that this case was over. No charges had ever been filed, no Grand Jury subpoenas, and by his account, Patrick Kane was deemed innocent.
“The totality of the credible evidence — the proof — does not sufficiently substantiate the complainant’s allegation that she was raped by Patrick Kane and this so-called ‘case’ is rife with reasonable doubt,” Sedita wrote in a statement released Thursday.
No one will ever know what truly happened on the night of August 2nd, 2015, but it became abundantly clear that the DA did not believe the evidence supported the allegations against Kane.
Here are some of the highlights from the DA’s statement:
- There are significant material inconsistencies between the complainant’s accounts and those of other witnesses.
- The DNA results lend no corroboration whatsoever to the complainant’s claim of penetration, a required element of proof for a rape charge.
- The physical evidence and the forensic evidence, when viewed in tandem, tend to contradict the complainant’s claim that she was raped on Kane’s bed.
- Although Kane has exercised his constitutional right to remain silent (which prohibits questioning by law enforcement), he has made no known incriminating statements to any civilian, nor has he engaged in any conduct consistent with a consciousness of guilt.
You can read the Press Release in its entirety here.
While this case, and Patrick Kane will undoubtedly be the subject of hot debate for many months, and maybe even years to come, the DA made his views clear.
Patrick Kane would not be charged as dictated by the evidence. In fact, there was a distinct undertone of disgust to the entire statement that would indicate the DA was quite certain there were some major plot holes to this story line.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Which leads to the question, What’s next for Patrick Kane?
The young party boy winger is only 26 years-old, and still one of the best in the world at his position. It’s obvious that away crowds are going to jab Kane, every chance they get, but it looks that it hasn’t fazed him too much this season.
Kane is third overall in total points, tallying a solid 18 points (8 goals, 10 assists). He should trend as one of the best overall wingers statistically going forward this season.
Putting up the numbers he has, should help an injury-riddled Blackhawks team.
It seems as if we’ve heard the last about this case from Kane, after yesterday’s final statement on the case.
“I have repeatedly said that I did nothing wrong,” Kane said in a statement Thursday. “I have respected the legal process, and I am glad that this matter has now been closed, and I will have nothing further to say going forward.”
Let’s just hope if the Blackhawks, who have a solid chance at repeating, do repeat as Stanley Cup Champions, Kane takes it easy and moves away from the party boy stigma he has following him around.