The verdict is in, and one Knicks point guard can exhale.
The jury deliberating over whether New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose and his two friends gang raped his ex-girlfriend in her California home in 2013 found the former NBA Most Valuable Player not liable on all accounts a Wednesday ruling.
The news was first reported by the New York Daily News.
Rose cleared
— NancyDillonNYDN (@NancyDillonNYDN) October 19, 2016
Not liable on all counts.
— NancyDillonNYDN (@NancyDillonNYDN) October 19, 2016
The accuser, who remained anonymous as “Jane Doe,” asserted she slipped in and out of consciousness on the night of _____ while Rose and his friends took turns having non-consensual sex with her.
She asserted she was incapacitated and could not give consent.
Jurors deliberating 2 hours already in #DoevRose. Here's their instruction on main issue – consent pic.twitter.com/oG0nkvG5Ni
— NancyDillonNYDN (@NancyDillonNYDN) October 19, 2016
More jury instrux in #DoevRose "U should not assume that consent existed merely because of any prior sexual activity that u find occurred."
— Julia Marsh (@juliakmarsh) October 19, 2016
This one good 4 Rose "if u find that any prior sexual activity occurred, u may consider that along with all the evidence" in determ. consent
— Julia Marsh (@juliakmarsh) October 19, 2016
Rose and his pals let themselves into Doe’s apartment after text messages and phone calls went unanswered, but the trio maintains Doe gave consent and was aware of the sexual activity taking place.
Here's jury instruction on conspiracy. Rose could be found liable even if jury finds he didn't personally commit sexual battery #DoevRose pic.twitter.com/dHJAl7NIyH
— NancyDillonNYDN (@NancyDillonNYDN) October 19, 2016
The trial took a turn when damning text messages on that night from Doe to Rose, originally withheld from Rose’s attorneys, surfaced during the case.
Later in the day, Rose’s lawyers called Doe back to the stand to ask her about the so-called “missing” text messages, which were the subject of a mistrial motion because her lawyers did not turn them over to the defense.
The existence of the messages was known but Friday was the first time they were seen by the jury.
In one of the texts from Aug. 26, 2013, Doe writes Rose, “She was mad at me babe why u have me bring a b—- and u aint fina f— her.”
The last text was from 10:03 p.m. on Aug. 27, after the alleged rape, in which she asked Rose again about sending money and said, “I need to give some cash to Kendra.”
In July, the Chicago Bulls traded Rose to the Knicks in exchange for Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon.
Rose only played in one preseason game — a 16-point, five-assist outing in a loss to Houston — and has been away from the team tending to the case.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters on Wednesday he does not expect Rose to play in the two remaining preseason games.
“We’ve been talking to him,’’ Hornacek said. “That weights on your mind, these things. When it’s over, it’ll be over. He can move on and focus on basketball. I talked to him last night. He seems OK, just getting through the process. He’s itching to play basketball. He knows that has to come first. He understands that.’’
“It would’ve been nice if he was here and played and got in a rhythm with guys. We do have some days of practice before the first game. Even after the Cleveland game, we’ll have time to do things.’’
Kristian Winfield covers the New York Knicks for Elite Sports NY. You can start the conversation on Twitter @Krisplashed.
