Good for him...I was hoping he was innocent...Get him back instead of Van Can'tunderstandwhatthehellyoursaying
The stuff that came out about him not wanting his children to call him "dad" and the like is whats going to hurt him the most.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2934203 Hall of Fame basketball player Calvin Murphy was found not guilty today of charges he molested five of his daughters. Jurors deliberated just two hours before clearing Murphy on all six counts. When the verdict was read, Murphy closed his eyes, then looked up at the ceiling. He bear-hugged defense attorney Rusty Hardin as tears rolled down his face. Four of the five daughters who had accused him of sexual abuse sat in the back row of the courtroom and cried after the verdict was read by state District Judge Michael McSpadden. The daughters declined comment as they left. The verdict was read about 4:35 p.m. Earlier today during closing arguments, prosecutors Murphy as a cheat and a child molester today, while defense attorneys maintained that the daughters were lying in an orchestrated effort to make him pay. "You can never fully repair his reputation," Hardin told jurors during closing arguments. "But you can take that first step in righting an injustice." Hardin asked jurors to find Murphy innocent of abusing five of his 10 daughters between 1988 and 1991. He faced three charges of indecency with a child and three charges of aggravated sexual assault. Prosecutors, however, labeled Murphy "a master of manipulation." "He concealed from his own wife for more than 20 years that he has four other families," prosecutor Paula Storts told jurors. "He's a liar. He's a cheat and he's a child molester." The monthlong trial's testimony phase ended last week after Murphy testified in his own defense and tearfully denied the allegations. Jurors began deliberating the case this afternoon following three hours of closing arguments. If convicted, Murphy could have faced five years to life in prison for the aggravated offenses and two to 20 years for the indecency violations. Prosecutors said Murphy tried to maintain a public image of having only one family, even though he has 14 children with nine women. He only married one of the women, according to prosecutors, and accepted her children. They said his children with the other women were told not to call him "Dad." Prosecutor Lance Long said some of the women's outcries as teenagers went unanswered and one was placed in a mental hospital after speaking out. Long claimed Murphy molested those he didn't think would tell and those whom nobody would believe. He kept the girls' mothers "under his thumb" through emotional and financial dependence on him, Long said. Murphy's attorneys say the former Houston Rocket didn't abuse any of his children. They claim the allegations by his daughters, now all adults, stem from a dispute over money and resentment over the way Murphy treated some of the children compared to others. Defense attorney Hardin said jurors shouldn't let the way Murphy lived his life influence their verdict. "Don't be sidetracked by a lot of these issues," he urged. "These are fabricated charges." He disputed prosecutors' assertion that Murphy controlled the women in his life and said, "the only power Calvin Murphy had was the power of discipline to get into the Hall of Fame at 5-foot-10. "He is a ruined man," Hardin said. "They have already won. Now, the question is whether he is going to go to the penitentiary." Defense attorneys say three of the five women have been trying to claim $52,408 in death benefits left in a Teacher Retirement System of Texas account belonging to their mother, Phyllis Davidson. Murphy had a 20-year relationship and four children with Davidson, who died in a car accident in 1996. This year, the three daughters continued their grandmother's earlier protests over Murphy receiving the benefits. He was listed as the account's beneficiary, according to court records. On Feb. 20, letters went to Murphy, his three daughters and their grandmother saying that Murphy was the account's rightful beneficiary. A month later, Murphy, 56, was arrested and charged with sexual abuse and indecency with the five daughters, including three with Davidson. Murphy was drafted in 1970 by the San Diego Rockets, who moved to Houston the following season. He quickly became a fan favorite. His 17,949 points were a franchise high until Hakeem Olajuwon passed him. Known as the "Pocket Rocket" because of his small stature, Murphy missed just nine free throws -- and made 78 straight in one stretch -- in 1980-81 for a record single-season percentage of .958.
Glad to hear NOT GUILTY!! Watching Rockets telecast is not the same without Murphy. I doubt CD will give him job back.
Since I was bored at work, I started this: http://www.petitiononline.com/murph23/petition.html It was aeroman10's idea, as you can see he was the first to sign.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1940008 Monday, December 6, 2004 Associated Press HOUSTON -- Hall of Fame basketball player Calvin Murphy was cleared Monday of charges he sexually abused five of his 10 daughters more than a decade ago. Murphy shook hands with his attorney and wiped away tears after the verdict was read. Murphy, 56, was a Houston Rockets guard from 1970-83 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. His daughters say the abuse occurred between 1988 and 1991. Murphy denied the allegations, saying they were based on resentment and a dispute over money.
I think he'll have his job back within two years if he wants it. Not guilty is not guilty. And the truth be told, it's not a national thing either. Most people are not following Calvin Muphy's case. It's been quiet. So his coming back will not be a big deal on the national level. I think even Kobe is beginning to regain his momentum already and suspect Kobe will be doing commercials within a year or two.
I think it has gotten somewhat a national media thing as its stated on ESPN's website, I didnt even think they would report it on their site.
You know what would kill me? If the Rockets didnt bring him back and he went on to some National Media network like TNT and/or ESPN to be a commentator with them.
That would really suck..but i highly doubt the Rockets will let him go cuase they would have to hear the outrage by the Houston Fans.
Hopefully he will be re-instated. I've gotten used to hearing VC now and his accent, but it'd be nice to have the energetic Murph back. I just hope that if he does return he brings back the same enthusiasm to the broadcast as he did before. I hope this horrendous ordeal will not damper his spirits for long.
