Jury acquits Chris Cook of assault

[joeybee12]

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook was acquitted Thursday of all charges that he assaulted his girlfriend last October and says his next move is to get ready for the upcoming NFL season.

"I got a job to do. I missed 10 games" last season, Cook told reporters outside the courtroom after the jury returned its verdict.

Cook, 25, was charged with one count of domestic assault by strangulation and one count of third-degree assault, both felonies, after a fight with his then-girlfriend of 10 months. The jury acquitted him of those and two misdemeanor domestic assault counts.

Cook bowed his head deeply over the table when he heard the verdict. Outside court, he said he had been on "an emotional roller coaster" and was relieved to be acquitted.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7691870/chris-cook-minnesota-vikings-acquitted-assault-charges

And yet another pro athlete gets away with assault against a woman...tell me, do these jurors think they'll autographed merchandise so they look the other way?

[dakota_democrat]

1. Guilty until proven innocent, then still guilty.

[joeybee12]

2. When you hit someone so hard they lose their hearing for

two weeks...that is not self-defense.

[Upton]

3. Were you there?

Cook was acquitted, while Baker has admitted to lying...at least about part of the incident:

Baker, 21, of Norfolk, Va., initially told police and medical workers that the 6-foot-2, 212-pound player choked her twice as they fought, but recanted that claim less than three weeks later. Baker testified that she lied to police because she was angry and wanted them to haul Cook off to jail. Prosecutors contended she backed off her story under coercion and because she was afraid of ruining his football career. She also testified she still had one of the dreadlocks she tore off Cook's head.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7691870/chris-cook-minnesota-vikings-acquitted-assault-charges

So, why should a jury believe anything else she says?

[joeybee12]

4. See #2...

Sounds like defense on her part...he's 6 foot 2, 212 pounds and he knocks her so hard she loses her hearing.