Prediction: Brandon Marshall will skate in battery trial

A misdemeanor battery charge against Brandon Marshall is being heard at what was advertised as a one-day trial in Atlanta -- but that prediction proved inaccurate. The proceeding moves into a second day today, with the judge dismissing the jury yesterday while Rasheedah Watley, Marshall's ex-girlfriend and alleged punching bag,...

By Michael Roberts

August 14, 2009

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A misdemeanor battery charge against Brandon Marshall is being heard at what was advertised as a one-day trial in Atlanta -- but that prediction proved inaccurate. The proceeding moves into a second day today, with the judge dismissing the jury yesterday while Rasheedah Watley, Marshall's ex-girlfriend and alleged punching bag, was still on the stand. The defense will get its chance after the prosecution rests, and Harvey Steinberg, Marshall's big-dollar attorney, has already made it clear by his opening statement and cross-examination that he'll be employing the time-tested attack-the-victim strategy. He's cast Watley as a gold digger, and she's given him ammunition to enforce that portrait: a letter from a previous attorney seeking a $500,000 payment from Marshall, not to mention her use of his Jaguar -- and her denial to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that no abuse had taken place.

That's probably enough to convince at least one juror to exonerate Marshall despite having reportedly been involved in multiple instances of violent behavior, as was spelled out compellingly in an ESPN Outside the Lines report that can be viewed by clicking here. A hung jury or acquittal won't mean that Marshall's innocent, however. Rather, it'll simply prove once again that while everyone is equal under the law, some people are more equal than others.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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