The prosecution rested on Friday in the sexual assault trial of former Houston Rocket and Basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy in which five of his daughters have testified that Murphy sexually molested them years ago. Here are earlier posts on the indictment and trial of Murphy in this matter.
Although I have not sat in on any of this trial and Murphy is ably represented by Houston criminal defense attorney Rusty Hardin, my sense is that the case has not gone particularly well for Murphy to date. Press accounts have described the jury members as being visibly affected by the searing testimony of Murphy’s daughters, and the jury will almost certainly hold Murphy’s prodigious promiscuity (14 children by nine different women) against him.
Nevertheless, Mr. Hardin has plugged away at creating reasonable doubt by highlighting the daughters’ ulterior motives and inconsistencies in their stories. His defense strategy apparently will center around testimony from Murphy’s other children and Murphy’s testimony. This may be a case in which Murphy’s performance on the stand will ultimately determine whether the jury decides to convict or acquit. I expect the trial to last another week or so.
One thing is for sure — this trial has been bloody for Murphy, who is finished in his career as a media personality in Houston regardless of the outcome of the trial.