Why Is Patrick Kane's Accuser's Lawyer Withdrawing From The Case?
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patrick Kane rape investigation has escalated to bizarre levels. And now the lawyer for Kane's accuser is walking away from the whole situation.
Just one day after dropping what appeared to be a disturbing bombshell in the case, attorney Thomas Eoannou called a press conference Thursday night to announce that he is withdrawing himself from the case. He strongly insinuated that the accuser's case was not as strong as he believed - or that the accuser and her family may not have been totally honest with him.
"I have an ethical responsibility to withdraw from the case, and I wished them the best of luck," said Eoannou. "The representations that were made to me were not accurate, and because I have no confidence in the story that was told to me I'm withdrawing as their lawyer."
On Wednesday, Eoannou revealed in a press conference that the evidence bag that contained the rape kit used on Kane's accuser was found at the home of the alleged victim's mother. He maintained that there is "no question" that it is the real evidence bag, but added "I don't have confidence in the way I was told the bag was found" and that "there may have been some fabrications" involving the bag.
When asked if his lack of confidence in the bag story is related to the accuser, Eoannou said "One has nothing to do with the other." His lack of confidence is in the story about the evidence bag, and not necessarily the rape accusation itself. This calls into question the accuser's mother, who told Eoannou the evidence bag was anonymously delivered to her home.
Eoannou says bag is "a real evidence bag" from case. "I received storyline from mother, and I'm not comfortable w/ that version of events."
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 25, 2015
Just to reiterate: at no point did Eoannou say the bag was a fake or a hoax. Just that story he was told about how it was found was false.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 25, 2015
Patrick Kane's lawyer Paul Cambria also held a press conference Thursday night, and reiterated his previous argument that the mother's story was a fabrication.
"It's obvious to me that Eoannou dropped out of the case because he was lied to by his client's family," said Cambria. "They fabricated evidence. I told you yesterday that this whole thing was a hoax, and now it is obvious."
Cambria is now pushing for prosecutor Frank Sedita to drop the case entirely, due to the latest developments and possibly compromised evidence.
Cambria wants the case stopped because integrity of the case is "forever tainted." Has confidence Sedita will do the right thing.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) September 25, 2015
Cambria: "I feel that Patrick Kane has been victimized. This happening today has been bizarre."
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) September 25, 2015
The story of the supposedly torn evidence bag became peculiar when the Erie County Commissioner of Central Police Services John Glascott insisted that the evidence, including the accuser's rape kit, "is accounted for and remains in its original packaging in the possession of Erie County Central Police Services."
Eoannou wouldn't get into further details on why he's no longer confident enough to continue representing the accuser. But it certainly appears that either someone lied to him, or her case isn't as strong as he thought it was.
Sedita is expected to speak with media on the case around 11:00.
The setup as we await District Attorney Frank Sedita pic.twitter.com/OSrdgCDafm
— WBEN NewsRadio 930AM (@NewsRadio930) September 25, 2015
The case will become clearer as more information comes out. But just a day after it took a disturbingly strange turn, it suddenly appears to be swinging wildly in Kane's favor.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here and follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff.