You have to include them as well...it's due process. Else, it wouldn't be balanced under the law (money is another story). This is the same laws that protect YOU when everyone else is against you (when you, yourself know that it's a setup). It doesn't matter what it "looks like (obvious or not)." It protects all. I understand the point of view from a victims standpoint, but you also have to look a the falsely accused point of view as well. If the law only protected the "victims" then it would be as easy as just "pointing a finger" to get someone arrested. Imagine how many fake "Kobe cases" we'd have if that happened.
Not really. There are often strategic reasons to selectively charge. Very often, you just don't want to dilute the evidence of your stronger charges. Look up "sponsorship theory" on google.
I saw this thread when it started and then just ignored it. I'm sorry I came back for another look. I don't enjoy this story, I don't enjoy knowing about it and I don't enjoy following it. But I just think it's flat stupid that anyone would have the nerve to present a theory, at this point, about innocence or guilt. One insults Calvin, one his daughters. And NO ONE here, regardless of fan love, is qualified to act as a character witness, either for or against. It won't happen and I'm sure it shouldn't, but I half wish this thread would just get locked until the court case is all worked out. I know that I, for one, won't be visiting it again. Regardless of guilt or innocence, it's just too damned upsetting to see people assuming Calvin's guilty OR that his daughters would make this kind of stuff up on account of money. Anyone presuming to know the truth at this point, or even presuming to have a good guess at it, should be ashamed of themselves.
Hall of Famer released on bail; his attorney denies all charges By ROSANNA RUIZ Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Hall of Fame basketball player and Houston icon Calvin Murphy was charged Monday with sexually molesting five of his daughters more than a decade ago. Murphy, a television commentator for the Rockets, surrendered to authorities after being charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecency with a child, said Lance Long, a Harris County assistant district attorney. The charges involve five grown daughters who said Murphy sexually abused them between 1988 and 1991, when they were under 17, according to an affidavit by the Texas Rangers. Murphy surrendered at a Harris County jail Monday night and later was released after posting $90,000 bail. Murphy, the Houston Rockets No. 2 all-time leading scorer, had no comment when he surrendered. But at a hastily assembled news conference Monday night, his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said Murphy is not guilty. "He adamantly denies the charges," Hardin said. "We've investigated these charges for a couple weeks and we are just as convinced it did not happen as the district attorney's office is that it did." Hardin said Murphy is "absolutely devastated" by the allegations because "he spent his whole life in the public arena and he knows people are going to assume it's true." Hardin said he wished the charges had been presented to a grand jury. Hardin said the allegations are an attempt to get back at Murphy because he wouldn't give the women money. He said that three daughters wanted retirement money their mother left to Murphy after she died in a car accident. Hardin also said that because of past financial troubles Murphy doesn't have the financial means people assume he has. Murphy, 55, was one of the Rockets' most popular players, a flamboyant 5-foot-9-inch dynamo considered the ultimate little man. He once held the NBA record for consecutive free throws (78) and averaged in double figures every season he played -- professionally, at Niagara University and in high school in Connecticut. The Rockets issued a statement saying they granted Murphy a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties, but declined any comment about the charges. Former Rocket Matt Bullard took over for Murphy during Monday's game. If convicted of the charges, Murphy faces five years to life for the aggravated offenses and two to 20 years for the indecency violations, Long said. Because Murphy doesn't have a criminal history, he could also be eligible for probation if he's convicted, Long added. District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said late Monday that Murphy may also face additional charges, but he did not elaborate. Long would not reveal the origin of the investigation, which he said had been ongoing for several weeks. Hardin said Murphy, a Sugar Land resident, cooperated with the investigation and that he even escorted witnesses to the district attorney's office for questioning. Hardin said many witnesses, including one of the daughters named in the charges, told authorities the alleged abuses didn't occur. Hardin questioned why the women are only coming forward 13 years after the most recent incident was alleged to have happened. The charges are not Murphy's first brush with the law. In 1998, as the city's youth athletic director, he was investigated for claiming on time sheets he worked for the parks department while broadcasting in other cities. He was no-billed by the grand jury. Murphy remained a local hero -- he was so popular with kids he was sometimes called a Pied Piper -- and was named one of the city's 38 greatest athletes in January as part of the city's Super Bowl XXXVIII celebration. Besides his TV work, he's the Rockets' community services adviser, works with the Clutch City Foundation and conducts clinics. He is also a world-class baton twirler. The five daughters are Murphy's children from three different women, Long said. In all, Murphy has 14 children. Estella Olguin, a spokeswoman for Child Protective Services, said that sexual abuse cases make up 14 percent of the 35,348 abuse cases in Harris County. Sexual abuse cases are the third highest type of abuse cases here, she added. Last year, 5,015 people made sexual abuse allegations, Olguin said. "We see sexual abuse cases across economic and ethnic lines -- it's across the board. We see it in every type of household; there isn't a typical household," Olguin said. Reporter Todd Ackerman contributed to this article.
I agree but win lose or draw. . . I think his career is over Accusations like this . .. even if proven frivolous .. . don't go away Rocket River
Was everyone here so politically correct (i.e. innocent until proven guilty) when Kobe got charged? Just curious ....and I really dont know the answer...I don't recall. Regardless, I hope its not true....not for his sake but for the kids sake. However, he shold rot in hell if its true. Imagine the prison team of Jayson Williams, Kobe and Calvin? Those 3 any any 2 felons could probably win some games...no?
Sometimes I think I really don't know these people, former player or active ones... How can I say that
Bill said he has known Calvin for 30 years and worked with him for 20 and didn't believe he was capabale of anything like the charges. He said he had talked to Calvin and he was understandably upset and depressed and..... SOP but Bill was not quite a smooth as his normal self.
Tell me, what's the weather like on the bizzaro planet you come from? Calvin Murphy is not going to get the benefit of the doubt because of who he is and what he is so the smartest thing he could have done was to be quiet and secure competent legal counsel. It is an unfortunate fact that for many high profile athletes and personalities, the mere accusation of wrongdoing becomes synonmous with guilt. That said, this episode smells very funny: The Harris County DA filed charges without going to the Grand Jury first. While the DA has the right to do that, it's considered an unusual step. In Texas, the charge itself is sufficient to secure an arrest warrant so that's what appears to have happened in this case. The alleged incident(s) occurred 13 years ago & the alleged victims are now adults so all the DA appears to be acting on is allegations - there doesn't appear to be any direct evidence of a crime. In fact, 2 of Murphy's daughters who were allegedly molested accompanied him to the police to act as witnesses on his behalf. From KCOH's broadcast, it was disclosed that Murphy was having a dispute over money from his late wife's estate with the 3 daughters in question prior to their making these allegations. Murphy has been active in the Houston community since his playing days with the Rockets and has had contact with unknown numbers of children through his camps and charity efforts. There has never even been a hint of inpropriety or unusual behaviour on his behalf. This is not like say Michael Jackson's case where there are smoking guns lying about everywhere. False charges of this nature have been made before. The prudent approach is to wait and let the matter work itself out.
OMG, I can't believe nobody got Gummy Clutch's joke about Cynthia Cooper...The sarcasm detection around here is usually top notch...
If memory serves, most of the folks here either (a) celebrated the demise of the hated Lakers or (b) were ready to string Kobe up and many wanted to use their own string. BTW, your last statement is pretty tasteless. A man is dead in the Jayson Williams case and that's nothing to wink about.
ok...if this is their defense, it's very, very weak. yeah...the big incentive of going after his wife's TEACHER'S retirement money!!!??? Oh...that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that is the Teacher's Retirement System. Ahhhhh....what I wouldn't do to get my hands on them there riches!!! Seriously....I'm not saying Calvin did it. And I hope like hell he didn't. But I have a close friend who at 20 years old came to grips with the fact he was sexually molested by a male family member as a youngster...it was extremely painful...and shameful. Coming forward with that information is not easy....and the defense that they're just after his wife's teacher's retirement money is so weak, it's unbelievable to me. The burden is on the prosecution...and it's a huge burden. But I did find it interesting that the Harris County DA's office issued a statement saying that if you know of more offenses this guy has committed you should come forward...and I heard last night there are prosecutors in neighboring counties who may be bringing similar charges as well. Yikes. I hope like hell this isn't true....and I hope that our judicial system leads us to the truth on this one.
You are absolutely right. I joined this board the month Kobe was arrested and there were a truckload of disgusted posters who weren't willing to claim "innocent until proven guilty" or take a wait-and-see attitude. I guess I'm not too surprised to see the sudden shift of emotions and pleas when one of the Rockets' own is charged with sexual assault. As a fan of Kobe, I hope that the accusations against Murphy turn out to be false and I hope that other fans are willing to put their judgments aside until all the facts are in.
Whether or not the charges are true or not, I think that we can see serious faults with Murphy. He has 14 children with how many different women? And how many of these women did he marry? There is something seriously wrong with all of this.
The circumstances of an accusation often weigh into how much credibility I give the accusation. Two of the five alleged victims support Calvin. Three of the five are already in some sort of money squabble with him. It just smells fishy. I'm not going to judge the guy based on how many children he has, by how many different women. That isn't relevant to the charges. Of course, I REALLY hope it isn't true, and if it isn't, I hope the guy is able to bounce back. That jackass Marv Albert is still working. I would rather smell Shaq's armpit than listen to Marv Albert.
