By JOHN DORN Patrick Kane wasn't charged with any crime in 2015 after facing sexual assault allegations in his hometown of Buffalo, but new accusations have surfaced online regarding the Chicago Blackhawks star. Screenshots of (seemingly since-deleted) Jan.
Accusations against Kane resulted in no charges last year, with the infamously bizarre faux rape kit dramaperhaps derailing the accuser's claims. The NHL, the Blackhawks nor Kane have responded to these latest claims. Kane leads the NHL in goals, assists and points this season.
Thomas Eoannou, the lawyer for the woman accusing Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane of sexual assault, quit the case Thursday night, saying he didn't believe the story he was told about how a rape kit evidence bag was found. (Gary Wiepert/The Associated Press)
The woman's mother declined an interview request, and instead referred to a statement the family released to the media.
"This happening today is bizarre," Cambria said, noting that officials had confirmed all the evidence had been accounted for. "Today, within 24 hours of these kind of astronomical claims yesterday, we now find out that they're false."
Kane's attorney, Paul Cambria, said he would welcome an investigation of the bag incident. "Only someone who is unhappy with the DNA results would have a motivation to claim that it's compromised," Cambria told The Associated Press. "We are obviously quite pleased with the DNA results.".
Kane's attorney said both sides in the case have been told that none of Kane's DNA was found "from the waist down" on the woman. Police officials responded that no packaging is missing from the rape kit.
Kane's status with Blackhawks unchanged. A noted defense attorney who is not involved in the Kane case said that bag could simply have been carelessly discarded if the evidence it contained was placed in a new bag, which would not affect the evidence itself or the case.
Kane last week said he did nothing wrong and expected to be absolved. He also apologized for the distraction he has caused his family, teammates, the Blackhawks organization and fans. Eoannou said the person that left the evidence bag did not knock on the door or ring the doorbell.
It was the first time Eoannou has spoken publicly about the case that has been the source of intense speculation and rumour since early August, when Kane was accused of assaulting a young woman in his waterfront mansion after they met at a nightclub. Kane last week said he did nothing wrong and expected to be absolved.
Kane did not travel to Detroit on Wednesday for a pre-season game against the Red Wings. Kane played Tuesday night and it is common for players to rest when their team plays consecutive days before the regular season begins. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said "nothing's changed," regarding Kane's status with the team.