Two days after the Buffalo News reported that it was “highly unlikely” Patrick Kane would face criminal charges in the ongoing rape investigation surrounding him, news emerged on Tuesday stating that the accuser in the case is done cooperating with law enforcement.
Patrick Kane’s accuser cites stress, will no longer cooperate with investigation: report
The woman who accused Patrick Kane of rape no longer wishes to participate in the investigation against him, according to a report in the Buffalo News.
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The woman said that “the high-profile investigation has caused tremendous stress for her and her family, and that she no longer wishes to participate,” according to the report, which cites “five sources with knowledge of the case.” More:
The woman first asked the DA’s staff about the status of the investigation before stating that she no longer wants to cooperate, this source said.
[Erie Country District Attorney Frank] Sedita, who ultimately will decide whether the case goes forward or not, declined to confirm or deny the information obtained by The News. He said he will not announce his next moves in the case until he speaks with the prosecutor who is directly handling the case.
That prosecutor is currently on vacation, said Sedita, who will be elected Tuesday as a State Supreme Court judge. He faces no opposition.
The case has faced much scrutiny on social media, which one would assume is part of the stress that the woman cites as the reason for dropping her cooperation. The case has also made its way into the hockey rink, with Kane being met by chants of “No means no!” in visiting cities this season.
Kane was accused of raping a woman at his offseason home in Hamburg, N.Y. in early August. In September, the mother of the accuser allegedly lied to her daughter’s lawyer, Thomas Eoannou, regarding a tampered evidence bag that she said was left on her door step. The lawyer announced the claims in a dramatic press conference, then resigned from the case a day later, saying that new evidence had come to light and that he didn’t believe the mother’s claims.
It’s unclear how Tuesday’s news might impact a potential civil case against Kane, as the burden of proof is lower there than in criminal cases. Kane has maintained his innocence throughout. He hasn’t missed a game this season.
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