Patrick Kane Subject of Police Investigation

[Oaklandblue]

He doesn't have to be arrested or charged with anything for the Hawks to act. Oshie was reprimanded for missing a practice. Kane has embarrassed the organization a few times, but to my knowledge the Hawks have done nothing, even though they talk about being a proud organization that won't tolerate being embarrassed.

It just sounds like all talk to me. If a 4th line scrub would have embarrassed the organization like Kane has, he'd probably be released.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

It all boils down to this:

If Mike Riberio was still getting into trouble, was signed to the Note and was helping us in the same way Kane was the Hawks and we started winning Stanley Cups, would anyone care because of it? Would anyone here be calling for his head?

Kane hasn't been charged. The Hawks are under no obligation to do anything and as long as Kane isn't charged, what really can they do that the PA wouldn't fight? Just because Kane has had issues doesn't mean he is at fault here, you know. It also means that he isn't necessarily innocent, either. I'm not going to sit here and call the guy a jerk or a decent human being because I don't know him and there's alot of the things he's done floating around that it directly colors our judgement. Those aren't all he is, those are just the dumb, silly things that he's done and the media has a way of focusing only on that.

For any team or organization, a "scandal" is a momentary thing, a Cup is forever. How many scandals have you not have heard of done by players who have aided or were the catalyst for getting a franchise's name on the Cup. These players don't play to be good people, to be friendly people or to be charitable people, those are all things by choice; they are here to play for the Cup and a Check.

How many Blues fans would not pick up a bad reputation guy that would gurantee a Cup?

Ask anyone on Broad Street what it's like to be a Flyers fan outside of Philly back in the old days where EVERYONE hated the Flyers. These days that part of their history is over and all people remember is they won the Cup. Twice.

10-20 years from now that's what people will remember of the Hawks, too. They won Cups.

What will they remember about the Blues in 10-20? Hopefully that they didn't used to be in St. Louis.

[APOD]

http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2015/09/1 ... kane-case/

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/13698 ... ion-report

Rape kit test came back negative for DNA, semen and trauma. The accuser did have Kane's DNA under her nails and on her shoulder though.

Analysis of evidence in a sexual assault investigation often goes beyond just DNA, and the lack of DNA evidence in the rape kit does not suggest that sexual assault did not happen.

“The absence of DNA and semen, in itself, does not prove that there was no rape,” said Florina Altshiler, a Buffalo attorney who worked as a sex-crimes prosecutor in Alaska. “It proves that there was no ejaculation, or possibly, that the perpetrator wore a condom.”

Altshiler said she is aware of cases in which rapists did wear condoms.

Frank J. Clark, the county’s former DA, offered a different opinion.

If none of Kane’s DNA was found on the woman’s genital area or in her undergarments, that information “could be a game-changer” in Kane’s favor, he told The News.

“If the vaginal swabs taken at the hospital show no sign of his DNA, that could very well exonerate him of rape,” Clark said.

The occasion of a rapist using a condom is “extremely rare” in his experience. Clark said.

[Kerfuffle]

Agreed - looking better for Kaner everyday.

http://sportsmockery.com/2015/09/two-un ... -rape-kit/

[cprice12]

Shit just got really weird.
http://deadspin.com/lawyer-of-patrick-k ... socialflow

The rape kit, which was supposed to be under lock and key at the police station, was anonymously delivered to the accuser's mother's front porch. It was found ripped open and tampered with.

Wow.
Suddenly, the recent "good news" for Kane is now filled with a bunch of question marks.

Did a good Samaritan within the police force deliver the bag to notify people that the evidence had been tampered with? (if so, why not leave a note?)
OR...
Was this an "in your face" gloating move by a Kane supporter who somehow managed to steal the kit from the police station?

Either way...wow...this is crazy stuff.
I am looking forward to the ESPN 30 for 30 about this.
https://twitter.com/ByTimGraham/status/646733844251602944 https://twitter.com/ByTimGraham/status/646731896341311488 https://twitter.com/ByTimGraham/status/646731738132168704 https://twitter.com/ByTimGraham/status/646731470829187072 What's also interesting is that the accuser's attorney is a criminal defense attorney, not a personal injury lawyer. He has never "settled" a case. Which pretty much means the accuser wants Kane prosecuted...and she doesn't want to settle...otherwise she would have different representation. That seems to have been overlooked by a lot of people who are saying she is falsely accusing Kane and is just looking for a quick buck.

[gaijin]

That's seriously messed up. Are they trying to say the police tampered with the evidence to make it look like Kane was innocent? How can anyone make that claim now if the kit was anonymously delivered and found ripped open? There's no way to prove the police did it- there's no way to prove anyone did anything now. The kit is essentially useless now in a court of law.

[cardsfan04]

Oh shit, I was just coming to post that an empty evidence bag was left on the accuser's mother's porch. I didn't realize it was a torn open rape kit. I have my doubts about Kane's guilt, but this is really fucked up.

[cprice12]

And now...this...
https://twitter.com/tvbrad/status/646772388332376065 This is a friggin' circus, this case.

I want to know how they verified the rape kit on the porch of the mother of the accuser as being authentic...yet now they say no evidence is missing and all evidence is accounted for at the police station?

[Kerfuffle]

God this feels like a TV episode of Law and Order. Here's the whole press conference - it's only 14 min long --> http://www.csnchicago.com/blackhawks/wa ... conference

If it turns out the police have the original kit still then it means the one left on the doorstep was either a cruel hoax by someone or fabricated by the girl's family to draw more attention to the case. Its gets weirder everyday though.

[APOD]

This makes wonder if the leaked DNA evidence from a few days ago is even real info now. This case is getting very strange. There were some reports yesterday that while Kanes DNA was no where near the genital area another mans were(possibly two)
http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/Sto ... /Kane.html

[dmiles2186]

This article is a pretty good read and sort of echoes my feelings. Obviously, I'm not a female, so I can't relate to that perspective, but it's worth checking out nonetheless.

http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2015/ ... blackhawks

I had to have a very difficult conversation with my cousin recently. She's a women's studies university student. She's bright, talented, beautiful, witty, charming and funny. She's also a Chicago Blackhawks fan.

Our conversations are mostly good-natured banter, centering around hockey. We poke jabs at one another's favourite teams and players, and congratulate one another on fantasy league successes. It's usually light-hearted, and always in good fun. It was hard to hear that she was struggling with the news that Patrick Kane is the subject of a rape investigation. What's more, she was struggling with the fact that the franchise that she loves so much doesn't seem to care.


The Blackhawks boast one of the largest female fan bases in the league, with 45% of their fans being women; 8% higher than the league average of 37%. Blackhawks' president John McDonough said that their female fans were a "very, very important demographic" at the Bloomberg Chicago Sports Forum last fall. So why is it that my cousin (and so many other Blackhawks fans) are left feeling betrayed by the team they love?

Perhaps it's because the franchise is standing by Kane despite the fact that he allegedly sexually assaulted someone. Perhaps it's because they called a press conference, and then allowed Kane to refuse to answer any questions that weren't pertaining to hockey. Perhaps it's because time and time again, the NHL, the NFL and professional sports as a whole continue to ignore rape culture.

As our friend over at Stanley Cup of Chowder, Sarah Connors, pointed out, "if [a] hypothetical NHL player "allegedly" stabbed someone, I'd bet dollars to donuts they'd be suspended w/o pay immediately." So why wasn't Kane? I suspect the fact that he was second in scoring on a team that won its third Stanley Cup in six years last season has something to do with it. This would probably be a very different conversation if Kane's name was synonymous with 'fourth-line grinder'.

We don't know what happened that summer night. We may never know. The only people that know whether or not Kane is innocent are Patrick Kane and the woman he allegedly assaulted. Whether or not Kane's DNA was present is not as black-and-white as suggested by those who believe that the answers will be found in the rape kit. "The absence of DNA and semen, in itself, does not prove that there was no rape," attorney Florina Altshiler told The Buffalo News. Not to mention the fact that the accuser's lawyer claims that the rape kit was left on her mother's doorstep, which would suggest evidence-tampering, making the rape kit essentially inadmissible in court.

In fact, the charges could be dropped, or he could be found innocent, and we may still never know whether or not he actually assaulted that woman. Only two out of every 100 rapes in the United States lead to a conviction, and only 32% of sexual assaults are even reported (via RAINN.org).


There is an entire generation of kids looking up to their favourite athletes, looking for cues on how to behave. Would their idolatry be best reserved for people like Malala Yousafzai? Probably. But the fact remains that these athletes are role models, and that kids look up to them. They are paid to not only perform well on the ice, but off the ice as well. The expectation is that they will be exemplary members of society. That's why it's so hard to accept when they fall short.

Why are you reading a social commentary piece about the Blackhawks on a Habs site?

Because I'm a hockey fan first, and a Habs fan second.

Because I have a hard time loving a sport that doesn't seem to care about women.

Because this isn't the first case, nor will it be the last.

Because it's not okay that nearly one in five women have been sexually assaulted.

Because less than a year ago, I shared my story of being sexually assaulted.

Because my cousin looks up to me, and I have no clue what to say to her.

Because the presumption of innocent until proven guilty doesn't sit well with me. It assumes that the accuser is lying. Patrick Kane is not simply an innocent member of society. He is an accused rapist, and that is an extremely serious allegation, one that shouldn't be taken lightly.


No matter how this particular case ends up, I'd like to point out that no one - not you, not I, nor anyone else - has the right to tell a rape survivor (alleged, in this case) how to handle the situation and herself.

If she decides to settle the case out of court, to not pursue further legal action, or to take it as far as she can, it's none of our business. Just because a rape victim decides not to sit in a court room and relive the most traumatic experience of her life doesn't make her any less of a sexual assault survivor.

When I was raped, I didn't go to the police. Maybe I should have, but previous experiences dictated that they wouldn't help me. Women don't ask to be raped, and it isn't up to anyone but the victim to decide how best to handle the situation. Sexual assault survivors need love and support, not judgment.

The message being sent by the Blackhawks and the NHL is clear:

To young boys: it's okay to treat girls badly. As long as you're white, rich and powerful, you can find a way to sweep it all under the rug. The only consequences you'll have to face for your actions is some brief negative PR.

To young girls: you don't matter. We will gladly take your money, but we won't make any effort to be inclusive, nor will we make any effort to make you feel safe and heard.

Is Patrick Kane innocent until proven guilty? In the eyes of the law, absolutely. In the court of public opinion, however, the damage has been done. My cousin, a die-hard Blackhawks fan, is grappling with cheering for a team that doesn't love her as much as she loves them. I suspect she isn't alone, and there's only so much abuse 45% of your fan base is willing to take, Blackhawks.

Your move.

[cprice12]

My whole stance on this is you obviously have to let the process play out in a court or whatever...but people should be LIVID that the Blackhawks haven't held Kane out of training camp and made him a healthy scratch for the preseason games.

We discussed this on the podcast last night... T.J. Oshie was reprimanded and SUSPENDED FOR 2 GAMES for missing a practice.

Missing a practice.

But Kane, during his time as a Blackhawk, can choke a girl, beat up a cab driver with his cousin, has been accused of raping another girl, and has embarrassed the organization a number of times by being overly drunk at parties in countless photos...and to my knowledge, the Hawks have done absolutely nothing. It's a joke.

They could at least try to save some face and fine him or suspend him and let the NHLPA challenge it in court...at least then on the surface it would look like the Blackhawks are trying.

The Hawks have recently come out and said they are a proud organization and will not tolerate anyone giving the franchise a bad name. Well, Kane is doing that exact thing...he has been for years...and they haven't done a damn thing about it...ever. That is what really rubs me the wrong way. And you can be damn sure that if this was a 4th liner or some scrub, he'd have been off the team long ago. But everyone already knows that.

Just one more reason to hate the Blackhawks I guess.

[theohall]

The Chicago Blackhawks are a proud organization and will not tolerate anyone giving the franchise a bad name. #Fail #PatrickKane

Handy twitter note for anyone so inclined.

[Portland Blues]

Now the lawyer for the women has quit saying he doubts the claim of the kit showing up yesterday.

What a cat rodeo this has become...

[cprice12]

What a cat rodeo this has become...

That was a surprisingly accurate description of this whole thing.

Bravo.

[Kerfuffle]

This is why the Hawks and the nhl have done the right thing and not suspended him. Every day the due process is showing this was a money grab. I hope this girl's mother gets prosecuted if she faked the evidence bag.

[APOD]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nh ... /72773876/

Yea this is going to be over pretty quick. I was pretty skeptical about the whole thing and was leaning on Kane's side now I'm fully supportive that this is a money grab.

But don't get me wrong

I still think that Kane's drunk partying got him into this and still feel the Hawks need to do a better job with him....get him some help before he does something stupid again or finds himself in another scandal.

[Kerfuffle]

I still think that Kane's drunk partying got him into this and still feel the Hawks need to do a better job with him....get him some help before he does something stupid again or finds himself in another scandal.

I agree with that statement completely.

[ecbm]

This is why the Hawks and the nhl have done the right thing and not suspended him.

I'm sure you loudly protested the NHL's suspension of Voynov.

[cprice12]

This is why the Hawks and the nhl have done the right thing and not suspended him. Every day the due process is showing this was a money grab. I hope this girl's mother gets prosecuted if she faked the evidence bag.

The only reason he wasn't suspended or held out of practice is because of who he is.
Had he been a 4th liner, he would have been held out of camp until this was over.

Like I said before...the blues suspended T.J. Oshie for 2 games because he overslept and missed a practice a few years ago.
The Hawks have never done anything to Kane and Kane's incidents have been far, far, far more serious, and far more embarrassing to the organization.

I'm not saying he should have been suspended over this. I stated during our podcast (and we talked at length about the Kane situation) that I totally understand the organization standing behind Kane on a case like this where charges haven't been filed yet. I thought they should have held him out of practice and kept him away from camp until this blew over, and certainly not held that stupid press conference...but whatever. But their lack of action from his previous incidents is just a joke...and just shows they would never suspend or fine him or a player like him for conduct violations...which is sad.

[WaukeeBlues]

Now you have the attorney for the accused abruptly withdrawing from the case and there's information he was lied to by the "victim's" mother about the evidence bag.

Typically when you see that happen it's because there's a conflict of interest because now (since the attorney was the "victim's" attorney and not the victim's mom's attorney) the attorney could be a witness against the mom since he would be totally allowed to testify against her, and he's gotta withdraw.

Looks like foul play on the accuser's side of the aisle that fooled their attorney for a minute until he figured it out and then withdrew once he got pissed off.

If that by itself doesn't assault the credibility of the "victim" and her mom enough to prevent charges being brought against Kane, nothing will.