[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by DeepPurple

The Ray Lewis trial was broadcast live on Courtv in 2001 and lasted about 3 weeks. I had a home based business, so I was able to watch the entire trial live everday. I have a recollection of some of the facts that I usually don't see mentioned.

A group of 5 or so men approached Lewis' limo who were looking to mug, rob, whatever a bunch of well dressed blacks leaving a swanky nightclub at 4am in the plush suburb of Buckhead. The men were armed, that's one reason Lewis' limo ends up with 5 bullets holes in the side.

The situation might of been adverted because by the time the group reached the limo, Lewis and his entourage were all inside the limo. One of the guys, I guess was trying to impress the ladies, jumped out of the limo to confront the group. He was immediately struck over the head with a 3 pound champagne bottle. From that point on, a melee ensued between the two troups. The one defendant that was struck with the bottle was carrying a knife as well as one of the others in the entourage, they both used their weapons and killed two of the men in the other group. Ray stood by the back door of the limo and was trying to get his group to return to the car, eventually they did, at which time one of members of the other group fired his gun at the departing limo.

The fight took place in Buckhead, a suburb of Atlanta in Fulton County. The next morning Ray was getting ready to fly to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl but missed his flight. He could of been on his way to Hawaii but instead stayed to find out what was going on. He got in contact with the Atlanta Police and they came to to question him, he was staying in Gwinett County. When the police asked the name of the other people, Ray gave them false names. In the end, Ray could not have been charged with obstruction of justice since the police was outside of their jurisdiction when they took Ray's statement. However, when the D.A. needed a crime they could all agree on, they went with obstruction of justice because it was a misdemeanor and the defense had the D.A. backed up against the wall. In fact, if the trial had gone to the jury they would of acquitted Ray, who was far less involved then the two other men who were acquitted. Basically, the jury saw it as self-defense and found both not guilty. Ray just didn't want to risk his chances and took the easy plea, rather than the unknown of a jury.

Interesting stuff. Why did he pay the families in the civil suit? Dudes were trying to mug them and he gave their families money?