Mistrial granted in Vanderbilt football players’ rape case

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A judge has granted a mistrial in the case of two former Vanderbilt football players convicted in the dorm-room rape of a student.

Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins on Tuesday ruled in favor of defense attorneys who said a juror intentionally withheld information that he was a rape victim during the jury selection process.

Defense attorneys said the juror, 31-year-old Todd Easter, intentionally withheld information that he was a rape victim during the jury selection.

Easter testified at a hearing last week that he didn’t withhold information because he doesn’t consider himself a victim.

In his ruling, Watkins said “actual bias has been clearly shown.”

“Our system of justice cannot tolerate a trial with a tainted juror regardless of the strength of the evidence against the defendant,” Watkins said.

A Sumner County man was convicted of raping Easter when he was 16. However, Easter testified that his relationship with the man was consensual and that his parents were the ones who pressed charges.

The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of alleged sexual crimes, but Easter, who was the jury foreman, agreed to have his name included.

Defense attorneys described Easter as “deceitful and manipulative,” and that he had an agenda.

They said that during the jury selection process Easter had a chance to discuss the rape case he was involved in but when asked whether he had been sexually assaulted, defense attorneys said Easter’s response was, “no one super close to me.”

They also noted comments Easter made to the media after the players were convicted, that part of his motivation for wanting to be foreman was so he could look the defendants in their eyes as the verdict was read.

Easter testified that wasn’t his motivation, but that he was simply trying to “give them the respect of a human being.”

Easter acknowledged that he had a sometimes abusive relationship with the man who was convicted of raping him. He said the man threatened to harm him when he broke off the relationship.