After seven hours of deliberation, the jury in the Adrian Mcpherson internet gambling trial were unable to come to an agreement, asking for trial transcripts to help. The former FSU quarterback is on trial for gambling over the internet.
McPherson's attorney, Grady Irvin Jr., initially called five witnesses, including former FSU coach Bobby Bowden, who admitted that McPherson was a good enough player quarterback had the skill to “throw interceptions if he wanted to purposely lose a game”. Irvin ostensibly called him to counter rumors that McPherson threw the NC State game - which FSU lost - even though friends testified he normally bet on FSU to win. But, repeated prosecution objections kept Irvin from making his point, and he abandoned the questions. Bowden repeatedly denied any knowledge of McPherson’s alleged gambling.
The prosecution is relying on mobile phone records that “show McPherson called SBG Global to place bets and wire money”. Although the defense claimed that McPherson could not have made the calls as he was at practice, no proof was offered of practice times, and calls to McPherson’s mother were placed on the same phone ten minutes after the ones to SBG. Also cited by the prosecution is testimony from two childhood friends of the footballers’, which was dismissed by the defence as being “fraught with jealousy.”
Irvin wavered between “shouting and whispering” in his closing argument, saying “The prosecution is asking you to gamble on what-ifs and could-haves.” Though the trial is unimportant in the annals of legal history (the maximum penalty is a misdemeanour fine), it is being keenly watched in the world of sport, not to mention football-crazy Florida.@@@
McPherson's attorney, Grady Irvin Jr., initially called five witnesses, including former FSU coach Bobby Bowden, who admitted that McPherson was a good enough player quarterback had the skill to “throw interceptions if he wanted to purposely lose a game”. Irvin ostensibly called him to counter rumors that McPherson threw the NC State game - which FSU lost - even though friends testified he normally bet on FSU to win. But, repeated prosecution objections kept Irvin from making his point, and he abandoned the questions. Bowden repeatedly denied any knowledge of McPherson’s alleged gambling.
The prosecution is relying on mobile phone records that “show McPherson called SBG Global to place bets and wire money”. Although the defense claimed that McPherson could not have made the calls as he was at practice, no proof was offered of practice times, and calls to McPherson’s mother were placed on the same phone ten minutes after the ones to SBG. Also cited by the prosecution is testimony from two childhood friends of the footballers’, which was dismissed by the defence as being “fraught with jealousy.”
Irvin wavered between “shouting and whispering” in his closing argument, saying “The prosecution is asking you to gamble on what-ifs and could-haves.” Though the trial is unimportant in the annals of legal history (the maximum penalty is a misdemeanour fine), it is being keenly watched in the world of sport, not to mention football-crazy Florida.@@@
