Stillwater NewsPress

Crime Beat

July 12, 2012

UPDATE: Detective in Darrell Williams trial testifies victim identified him in photo

Testimony under way in suspended Oklahoma State athlete Darrell Williams' felony trial

STILLWATER, Okla. — A woman who accused suspended Oklahoma State basketball player Darrell Williams of assaulting her at a party picked the athlete from unlabeled photos and identified him as her attacker, a detective testified Thursday.

Williams, 22, is accused of sexually assaulting two women at a party in December 2010. Williams is on trial on four counts of rape by instrumentation and a count of sexual battery.

Two state witnesses testified in court Thursday morning about one of the women’s allegations and the investigation that followed.

Stillwater police Detective Jeff Watts, questioned by Assistant District Attorney Tyson Branyan, told the jury about investigating sexual crimes and the particulars of investigating the Williams case.

Watts said he interviewed one of the victims and a witness about four days after the party. Due to embarrassment or fear, it is not uncommon for a sexual assault victim to wait from several days to several years to report an assault, he said.

Watts said he interviewed one of the women who had gone to the party with the two victims was crying, shaking, tense and “not far from hysterical” when he interviewed her.

Watts also interviewed one of the women who made the allegations against Williams, he said. She was very sad, talking low and tired when he spoke with her, the detective said.

“She looked worn out,” Watts testified.

After interviewing the victim, Watts said, he had her view a photo of the OSU basketball team without any names and she immediately pointed to Williams at the upper left corner of the photo.

During cross examination by the defense attorney Cheryl Ramsey, Watts said he did not have the victim view individual photos of players’ faces out of uniform.

The state then called OSU senior Daniel Dixon to testify. During questioning by Assistant District Attorney Jill Tontz, Dixon said he recognized three OSU basketball players wearing similar orange and black OSU jump suits drinking alcohol punch, including Williams and former OSU player Marshall Moses. Dixon also said he smelled marijuana and saw a pipe being passed around in the basement where many players were, but did not see Williams smoking.

Dixon said he was an acquaintance of the victim and spoke with her once when she arrived at the party and again shortly before she left. He said during this second encounter she was in hysterics, sobbing and disheveled and spoke with him about what happened. At this point the defense objected and Dixon did not say what the victim told him.

Dixon also testified about the conditions of the party — the lighting, sound and layout. Dixon said although the basement and upper level of the home were not well lit, he could see everyone. Dixon also said there were several people he believed may have been basketball players dressed in identical OSU jump suits.

During opening statements, the defense indicated this would be significant to its case, contending the two women could have misidentified Williams at the dim, crowded party where many were wearing similar clothing.

During the state’s opening statements before witness testimony began Thursday morning, Tontz said the Rolling Stones put it well when they sang, “You can’t always get what you want,” contending that the athlete saw the two victims and violated them regardless of their will.

 

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