|
 The 20-year-old sophomore, the top U.S. college football player
last year after winning the Heisman Trophy, gave his version in a
statement to a former Florida Supreme Court justice retained by the
university to hear testimony.
According to a copy obtained by several media outlets, Winston
described the sexual counter as consensual, providing a graphic
account of having sex with the woman in his apartment after they met
at a bar near the campus.
"I never used physical violence, threats, or other coercive means,"
Winston said in the statement, adding that his unnamed accuser "is
lying about me."
Winston also said he intended to exercise his right under the
student conduct code not to answer questions until his accuser could
be confronted by lawyers, under penalty of perjury, the media
outlets reported.
 "Rape is a vicious crime. The only thing as vicious as rape is
falsely accusing someone of rape," Winston said in the statement.
Reuters could not immediately reach his attorney, David Cornwell,
who told reporters after the closed door hearing that the woman was
using it to build a civil lawsuit against Winston.
A decision is expected in two to three weeks. Punishments could
range from a reprimand to expulsion if Winston is found in violation
of four conduct code charges, two of sexual misconduct and two of
endangerment.
Winston was not criminally charged over the December 2012 incident.
A Florida state attorney last year found insufficient evidence for
charges.
[to top of second column] |
The female accuser, who no longer attends FSU, has filed a complaint
with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which
is investigating the university under Title IX, which requires
colleges receiving federal funds to promptly investigate complaints
of sexual abuse.
After the hearing, her attorney declined to discuss a possible
lawsuit against Winston, saying she was focused on holding him
accountable.
The woman testified in a separate room from Winston, attorney John
Clune said.
He criticized Winston's attorney for repeatedly publicizing the
woman's name, which was redacted in copies of the statement
published by the media.
"That kind of retaliation is frustrating to see," Clune told
reporters, speaking before Winston's statement was made public. "It
doesn't really help Mr. Winston at all."
(Reporting by Bill Cotterell. Writing by Letitia Stein and David
Adams; Editing by Bill Trott, Andre Grenon and Clarence Fernandez)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
