A Naval Academy midshipman was discovered not responsible of second-degree rape by a jury Wednesday morning following greater than per week of arguments in Anne Arundel Circuit Courtroom.
A number of witnesses testified within the trial of Wisconsin native Garrett Lee Holsen that he had intercourse with a closely intoxicated midshipman throughout an off-campus celebration final yr following the Herndon Monument Climb.
On Tuesday, the final day of testimony earlier than jurors went to deliberate, Holsen testified that the girl didn’t seem intoxicated, and gave consent when he requested if she wished to have intercourse whereas in an upstairs lavatory on the celebration. He stated that he and the girl had developed a detailed friendship all year long, which he noticed as evolving right into a deeper, romantic connection.
Final week, the girl and her fellow midshipmen testified she was closely intoxicated through the celebration, and didn’t give consent to have intercourse with Holsen that night. She stated she didn’t have any sexual curiosity in Holsen.
Assistant State’s Legal professional Courtney Scalice argued throughout Tuesday’s closing statements that Holsen noticed “the proper alternative” to make the most of his buddy sexually whereas she was intoxicated and within the lavatory with him.
Protection legal professional Peter O’Neill argued that she had not been ingesting closely, and had consented to have intercourse with Holsen that night.
In an announcement, Anne Arundel State’s Legal professional Anne Colt Leitess counseled the girl for testifying and prosecutors “for his or her efforts in looking for justice even when it is not at all times discovered.”
She stated she is “disillusioned within the final result” of the trial, and vowed to “proceed to hunt justice” in sexual assault instances.
O’Neill stated he and Holsen are “grateful for the jury’s verdict,” calling it “the right choice,” and stated that his consumer is “trying ahead to persevering with his profession.”
O’Neill referred to as a number of character witnesses final week, together with Holsen’s ex-girlfriend, who was courting him on the time and continued up to now him following the girl’s sexual assault allegations. These witnesses, who weren’t current on the celebration, testified about Holsen’s peacefulness and respect towards girls.
Earlier within the trial, O’Neill questioned the integrity of Holsen’s accuser as a consequence of her admission to an unrelated honor code violation for plagiarism, and countered the testimony of a number of witnesses referred to as by prosecutors by noting inconsistencies inside their recollections of the celebration. He additionally slammed detectives for failing to analyze the case additional.
Naval investigators referred the case to Annapolis Police final yr. A Naval Felony Investigative Service spokesperson stated the case went to metropolis police for native prosecution fairly than via the navy justice system “out of respect for [the woman’s] needs” and since it occurred at an off-base residence on Colonial Avenue in Annapolis.
O’Neill and prosecutors each stated throughout their closing arguments that the lead Annapolis Police detective did not get well bodily proof or pictures from the scene, and solely interviewed the girl for about 20 minutes.
“This [investigation] is simply embarrassing,” O’Neill stated throughout closing arguments. “It needs to be scary to all of us.”
Annapolis Police “didn’t do job in any respect” investigating the case, Scalice acknowledged throughout closing arguments.
Jurors began their deliberations Wednesday morning, and voted unanimously to acquit inside an hour and a half. 5 of the jurors had been girls, and 7 had been males, in line with O’Neill.
Holsen was charged with second-degree rape in addition to second-degree assault and a third-degree sexual offense.
After listening to arguments from O’Neill and the prosecution, Anne Arundel Circuit Decide Robert Thompson instructed jurors to not contemplate the opposite counts in the event that they determined Holsen was not responsible of the rape cost.
Each midshipmen concerned on this case are nonetheless enrolled on the academy. A spokesperson for the academy wouldn’t touch upon any motion associated to this case as officers there don’t talk about “midshipmen personnel points as a consequence of privateness issues.”
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