New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers completed his testimony on Friday in his assault and battery trial, denying accusations that he choked or shoved the woman who accused him.
Peppers, who began his testimony on Thursday, is facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The woman who testified on Thursday claimed that Peppers grabbed her by the neck, slammed her against a wall, and pushed her down the stairs after another man repeatedly called her cellphone while they were in bed together.
Testimony and Evidence Presented
During her testimony, the woman explained that Peppers filmed her and taunted her as she tried to gather her belongings and leave his house in Braintree, Massachusetts, after the alleged assault. Prosecutors also presented several videos showing Peppers asking the woman to leave his home.
A police report from the October incident backed up the woman’s account, with officers noting that she declined to go to the hospital but was treated for her injuries at the scene.
The woman emotionally described the alleged assault: “He grabbed me by the neck and slammed me against the wall. My feet weren’t touching the wall and he was holding me up against the wall.”
Defense’s Cross-Examination and Peppers’ Background
During cross-examination, Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, questioned the woman’s version of events and the severity of her injuries. He also pointed out that the woman had filed a $9.5 million civil lawsuit against Peppers, suggesting she might be “looking for money.”
Since the incident, Peppers has been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, causing him to miss seven games. Peppers, who is in his third season with the Patriots, signed an extension with the team last summer.
He was drafted by Cleveland in 2017, played two seasons with the Browns, and spent three seasons with the New York Giants before joining the Patriots. His current contract with New England runs through 2027.
