The lawyer for Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is troubled by by State Attorney Willie Meggs' comments about a sexual battery investigation involving Winston, via the Tallahassee Democrat.
Jameis Winston’s lawyer ‘deeply concerned’ about State Attorney’s comments
The attorney thinks high-profile comments could change the nature of the case.
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Florida State’s star quarterback was investigated in 2012 for a sexual assault complaint, and that case has recently been revealed as still open.
Meggs made comments to the Associated Press about the yearlong wait between the alleged incident and the trial, saying the time has allowed the alleged victim and witnesses to process the story.
“There’s nothing like being fresh on a case and walking in and saying, ‘what happened last night,’ ” Meggs said. “Now they’ve been talking to lawyers, they’ve been talking to each other and getting their stories together. ... People have had 11 months to decide what they’re going to say.”
Jansen did not say he was afraid of collusion or attorney influence, but rather was opposed to Meggs making public statements on the case, which he said brings the fairness of the trial into doubt.
“Such extrajudicial public statements at this early point in his investigation raise concerns in the minds of Mr. Winston and the public that Mr. Meggs may not be conducting the objective, fair, and unbiased investigation which is the right of every person involved in the criminal justice system,” Jansen wrote.
Winston has not been named a suspect, but the Tallahassee Police Department wants a DNA swab from the quarterback.
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