Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston’s student code of conduct hearing ended Wednesday after two days. Winston and the former FSU student who accused him of sexual assault each presented their side of the case to a hearing officer.
On the second day, the FSU police officer who first responded to the 2012 sexual assault allegation spoke in front of hearing officer Major Harding, a retired Florida Supreme Court Justice. Also at the hearing Wednesday was an investigator from the state attorney’s office which did not file criminal charges in December of 2013.
Winston did not testify, nor did teammates Chris Casher and Ronald Darby, who were at the apartment the night the alleged assault occurred.
After the hearing, Winston left without speaking to reporters. His attorney David Cornwall again said the woman accusing the Heisman trophy winner of sexual assault is lying.
“The only thing we got was more inconsistencies and more lies. This process was about making a record to, as I have always said, take this matter to civil court," he said.
Meanwhile the accuser's attorney, John Clune, says the media attention around the whole case has been difficult on his client.
“I think it’s hard for any victim who is a victim of a violent crime from a high profile athlete. I’ve worked on a number of these cases, and they really become like involuntary celebrities."
A decision by Harding on whether Winston violated any of FSU’s student code of conduct is supposed to be made within 10 days of the end of the hearing. Florida State plays Georgia Tech for the ACC football championship this weekend, and Winston is expected to play.
According to ESPN.com, Clune said he expects Harding to find Winston responsible for sexually assaulting his client.
"We want him to be found responsible and want him to be expelled from school," Clune said. "I think knowing the facts of the case and what has been presented, I think there is a very, very good chance of that happening."
