Jurors find L.A. Rams strength, conditioning coach Ted Rath not guilty of sexual battery

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12intheBox

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I dunno, I read it the opposite way— sounds like the defense might be able to establish that Rath was bombed out of his mind, in part because of medications for a recent health problem. If so, it would indeed be hard to establish that Rath was capable of the “specific intent” required to convict.

I haven’t followed the case closely, nor do I have a stake in the outcome one way or another. I am simply saying that it sounds like Rath is getting a good defense from his lawyers.

Dont get me wrong, I think it’s a worthy defense. It just means that this isn’t a case where the conduct itself didn’t happen. He went into her room and diddled this woman while she was sleeping. Bombed? probably. Incapacitated forming the specific intent? Probably. Legally not guilty? Probably.

Welcome back on the team when this is all over regardless of the verdict? Probably not.
 

den-the-coach

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Dont get me wrong, I think it’s a worthy defense. It just means that this isn’t a case where the conduct itself didn’t happen. He went into her room and diddled this woman while she was sleeping. Bombed? probably. Incapacitated forming the specific intent? Probably. Legally not guilty? Probably.

Welcome back on the team when this is all over regardless of the verdict? Probably not.

I concur, sorry, I don't buy I was drunk and on medication so excuse my actions, that's ludicrous! If that is how his defense team is proceeding, IMO, big mistake! It could be that Rath plead Not Guilty because he had too much to lose, but I hope his defense team has more then medication issues because I realize Lawyers go in that direction, but if I'm a juror, that would mean nothing to me.
 

ozarkram

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I am not a legal eagle but admitting anything seems well stupid. And taking the stand seems beyond stupid. Don't know there maybe some other dynamics here maybe the couples have been more than friendly on other occasions. But if its just you and me then your gonna have to prove I did it.
 

12intheBox

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I concur, sorry, I don't buy I was drunk and on medication so excuse my actions, that's ludicrous! If that is how his defense team is proceeding, IMO, big mistake! It could be that Rath plead Not Guilty because he had too much to lose, but I hope his defense team has more then medication issues because I realize Lawyers go in that direction, but if I'm a juror, that would mean nothing to me.

Well, it should. It’s a valid defense to the crime charged. If a juror is following the law - and they always should - and this “out of my mind” stuff presents reasonable doubt as to his intent, then he should be found NG.

It just isn’t gonna work in the court of public opinion. I would like to have the Rams hold a higher standard for their personnel - this ain’t the Chiefs, after all.

Of course, redemption is a real thing. Kromer is a good example of a guy I’m glad got a second chance.
 

12intheBox

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I am not a legal eagle but admitting anything seems well stupid. And taking the stand seems beyond stupid. Don't know there maybe some other dynamics here maybe the couples have been more than friendly on other occasions. But if its just you and me then your gonna have to prove I did it.

I think there are other witnesses - this is past he said she said. If the jury is going to hang their hat on intent, his testimony is pretty key.

Of course, that is one choice the lawyer doesn’t get to make. The defendant has an absolute right to testify - even if it’s a huge mistake. If that were the case here though, they wouldn’t preview it in openings, they would be fighting w him all the way up until the moment he was sworn in.
 

ozarkram

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I think there are other witnesses - this is past he said she said. If the jury is going to hang their hat on intent, his testimony is pretty key.

Of course, that is one choice the lawyer doesn’t get to make. The defendant has an absolute right to testify - even if it’s a huge mistake. If that were the case here though, they wouldn’t preview it in openings, they would be fighting w him all the way up until the moment he was sworn in.
I don't know all the facts. Witnesses would make a difference. But I didn't get that from the article. I have set on several juries. They don't always follow the law. Just my experience. You takes your chances.
 

den-the-coach

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Well, it should. It’s a valid defense to the crime charged. If a juror is following the law - and they always should - and this “out of my mind” stuff presents reasonable doubt as to his intent, then he should be found NG.

Sorry it just wouldn't do it for me, he's not guilty because he drank and mixed it with his medication and thus violated somebody.....Sorry no bueno! Again, it's JMHO, but I believe everybody could use that as a defense. I drank and was in pain and took, Aleve, Tylenol and Advil and grabbed her ass....Oops, just wasn't thinking straight.
 

kurtfaulk

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i couldn't imagine touching a woman unless she was reciprocal to the idea. how do all these guys do it? i think the problem is they have no respect for women. there can be no other reason.

.
 

ozarkram

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i couldn't imagine touching a woman unless she was reciprocal to the idea. how do all these guys do it? i think the problem is they have no respect for women. there can be no other reason.

.
Booze plus drugs plus moron.
 

12intheBox

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Sorry it just wouldn't do it for me, he's not guilty because he drank and mixed it with his medication and thus violated somebody.....Sorry no bueno! Again, it's JMHO, but I believe everybody could use that as a defense. I drank and was in pain and took, Aleve, Tylenol and Advil and grabbed her ass....Oops, just wasn't thinking straight.

Voluntary intoxication is only a defense to a crime with a specific intent - which most crimes do not have as an element.

First degree murder - for instance. If you murder someone in a drunken or drug induced stupor, you are not guilty of first degree murder. But, you are still guilty of second degree murder.

Here, Ted is charged w a specific intent crime so if he didn’t form that specific intent - he is not guilty. He may still be guilty of other things though.

Jurors should follow the law as it is, not as they think it should be.
 

nighttrain

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And what if the woman came on to TR, hubby saw it and she screamed foul play? Could happen
train
 

Classic Rams

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I've always liked Rath, but he got himself into a messed up situation. But I can't really relate because I haven't been in that situation. I've blown it with more females in closer friendlier more consentual situations than gone off on my own on hunches!

A guy I worked with years back (not a friend, he was a jerk) told me that he had served time in jail (and had to register as a sex offender) because he was at a party in a casino, and he and a woman from the party had gone into a hotel room to mess around, and when her husband discovered them she pointed a finger at my coworker and blamed him. Messed up if true, but like I said he was a jerk, so I didn't 100% believe him. I thought it was messed up if a woman would try to save face by ratting out a guy when it could've been consentual too, I was thinking from all sides of the story. Anyway he got back in jail for violating his probation more recently... hmmm, okay.

There's also a delusions of grandeur complex with some guys that think because a woman smiles and talks to them or even says hi that they even have a chance when the woman is not flirting but merely being friendly just to be cordial. Like in a coworker or friend situation. I worked with a really friendly female coworker recently, and I really liked her for being friendly and cool, but I figured that's just how she was so I didn't take it beyond that. Unfortunately another male coworker took it a little too far with her and she complained to the boss and he was taken into a closed door meeting with the bosses. Yeah she was friendly, cute, and outgoing, but she wasn't trying to hook up with everyone.

Rambling I know... just exploring possibilities for what went on and why. Trying to make sense of what enters someone's thoughts, drunk or not, to where they would attempt something like what Rath is being accused for.
 

nighttrain

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Could but based on defense’s opening arguments, wasn’t what happened.
The fact that TR is testifying says something is going to surface, otherwise why would he jeopardize himself? it's a strange situation in all aspects.
train
 

ozarkram

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I am thinking highly irate husband. If it was about money it could have been handled differently. Possibly an on going relationship wifey going along to save the marriage. Pure speculation on my part.
 

12intheBox

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The fact that TR is testifying says something is going to surface, otherwise why would he jeopardize himself? it's a strange situation in all aspects.
train

He is going to testify to his own state of mind. To how he can’t explain this - to how sorry he is it happened. He isn’t going to put any blame on her at all. If he was, that would have been forecasted in the opening. If you want the jury to be suspicious of her - you put that out there before she takes the stand.

They want the jury to like him - to feel sorry for everyone involved - and to agree that he wasn’t doing this for sexual gratification.
 

12intheBox

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I am thinking highly irate husband. If it was about money it could have been handled differently. Possibly an on going relationship wifey going along to save the marriage. Pure speculation on my part.

Highly irate both of them, I would expect. Wouldn’t you be?
 

Kevin

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Depends. My wife wouldn't be sleeping in the nude with strange men walking around the house. Friends or not.
One of the articles said the people at the house were friends and neighbors, and she was sleeping with her husband, so maybe she felt safe.