Didn't see anyone post it here yet ... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2181627 Griffin accuser denies trespassing Woman says Rockets player invited her to his home, later hit, shot at her By MIKE GLENN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle A woman who claimed she was beaten and shot at by Houston Rockets forward Eddie Griffin is denying allegations that the confrontation began when she forced her way into his home, an attorney acting as her spokesman said. "She had been invited over," Edward Chernoff said Sunday. "When she came over -- I think maybe the timing was poor -- Mr. Griffin was with somebody else and he became angry with her." Joann Romero, 21, reported to police early Saturday that Griffin punched her in the face, bloodying her lip and bruising her right eye. "When she got in the car and drove away, he shot at her," Chernoff said. "She was not grazed by the bullet, and her car was not shot." Romero told police she then left Griffin's home in the 3900 block of Shadow Trace Circle and reported the incident to authorities from another location shortly before 5 a.m. She was later treated at Spring Branch Medical Center for what police described as "serious injuries" to her face. "She certainly wasn't a burglar," Chernoff said. "She's been to his house on several occasions at his invitation -- just like this time." There was nobody at Griffin's house Sunday. His lawyer, Rusty Hardin, declined to comment about Romero's accusation that she was assaulted at the basketball player's upscale home in a gated community in southwest Houston. However, Hardin said the woman was "both distorting the relationship and the circumstances of why she was there." "He had run her off twice that night," Hardin said. "He has tried to get her to leave him alone for some period of time." About an hour prior to the incident that resulted in the allegations that she was beaten and shot at, Romero rang the doorbell and was refused entrance. She later went inside without permission and was escorted out of the house by Griffin, Hardin said. "She's just mischaracterizing everything," Hardin said. "She is clearly a trespasser -- there's no question about that." Chernoff said Romero and Griffin had a casual, although romantic, relationship going back at least two years. "This was not a `stranger groupie' situation. This is a woman who had been over to his house several times and had been invited this time," he said. "She's not guilty of any crime. She's not guilty of doing anything except coming over on invitation. She came over at the wrong time." Chernoff said his law firm won't be representing Romero in any future legal actions. He said he is acting as her spokesman because he knows a friend of her family. Romero was with her family Sunday at their home in the 9600 block of Maribelle, Chernoff said. "She's doing fine," he said. "She has a busted lip and she's bruised up, but she's doing fine." Romero is apprehensive about playing a role in a high-profile criminal case involving a professional sports figure like Griffin, Chernoff said. "She knows she's going to be involved in a system that can get very difficult," he said. "She knows that she's going to be testifying, and she knows that she's going to be asked a lot of questions and accused of things. She's already been accused of being a burglar." Houston police on Sunday said no charges have been filed, but the investigation is ongoing and they've yet to speak to Griffin about the allegations that have been leveled against him. Hardin said his client probably won't be making a voluntary statement to detectives.
Oops! Sorry for reposting the Chron article. Just found that it's been posted. Thanks to the time difference (I'm in Hong Kong).
If she had been there before then she probably had the number. But as for the time... people go in and out of neighborhoods at all hours. I frequently stay up late and people are out. Not a lot, but folks are out driving, doing whatever the hell it is they do. I still think someone is innocent until proven guilty. That includes Eddie.
YEh, I guess I get the picture. This woman sneak in right around 4-5 am in the morning, pulled her car right in front to the driveway she's about to break in, only to be met by a puch from Eddie. And he then fired some random shot at her while she flet the scene. In the mean while, a woman at the house claimed they have been talking. Look, I am all for innocent proven guilty, but can people stop postulating theories for this guy?
I was just talking with the porter and concierge at my building and the Chronicle was laying on the desk. I mentioned the Eddie Griffin story which was on top and the porter said that he knows that girl. She had partied with him for a while and had bragged that she was dating Eddie Griffin, this guy didnt believe her until he saw her name in the paper recently because she's not even great looking. He told me that he thinks she's got a screw loose. Thats not exactly news to anyone I'm sure but it reinforces what I had suspected.
Man, your into proving the innocent guilty... that is against the constitution or something. There are two things about this story that make me believe the girl involved is making this crap up. 1. There are no arrest warrants out for Eddie. this alone is proof enough for me. If the cops saw a beaten woman and still aren't out to get Eddie then something is fishy. 2. Her lawyer says he will not represent her. This says a lot. Any lawyer worth his salt would jump at the chance to be a part of a high profile case like this he he thought there was any chance of winning. The girl at Eddies house is full of $h1t.
wow. I can't believe there are people on this board that are actually defending EG hitting this woman. Does ev1 here remember how BIG Eddie is compared to other people? Especially a woman. Thats like a normal sized man beating up on a 8 year old girl. WTF is wrong with you guys? I have some friends at Spring Branch hospital that have told me she was REALLY messed up. She had massive swelling around her face like EG landed a solid haymaker. Can one of you 'men' here tell me how far an little girl would have to go before you decide that cold-cocking her would be the only choice you have? This should be interesting...
We're not defending EG beating a woman any more than your defending a woman be allowed to break into someone's house in the middle of the night. We don't know all the facts yet... chill.
BS!!! 1) How could there have been somebody else in the house when it was said there werent NO witnesses. 2) You dont just get mad and hit somebody because they show up at your door. 3) If her face was all bruised up there would be a warrant for Eddie already. 4) Ok even if she was there on an invitation if he denied the entrance you dont go in there!!!! 5) AND OF COURSE SHE GONNA SAY SHE IS NOT A BURGALAR!!!!
Has Eddie said his side of the story? I hope this is over with soon so we can get him back on the court.
Hardin (Griffin's lawyer) told the newspaper that Griffin probably won't be making a voluntary statement to detectives.
D4mn !! no edit button... quote above is from AP article on ESPN, http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1648377
What the hell is Eddie doing?!?! That guy is whack! He's getting paid MILLIONS of dollars and he thinks he'd too good now. He's thinking about retiring just because he has all the money he will ever get. I loved this guy but i dont know about now. Rockets need to stop wasting their time with this trash and get a new player.
Wow, the way you talk, you'd think you were sitting there watching Eddie do it. You know just as much as the rest of us.
