Attorneys for four men more accused of raping a Louisiana State University sophomore say that rape never happened, but instead, it was “absolutely” consensual.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 19-year-old Madison Brooks was drinking at Reggie’s Bar near the LSU campus on January 15, when reportedly asked Kaivon Washington, 18; Everette Lee, 28; Casen Carver, 18; and a 17-year-old for a ride home. She allegedly said she was intoxicated and couldn’t find her friends.
Washington and the minor are now accused of raping Brooks in the back seat of the car, with Lee and Carver in the front seat. Then, since Brooks was purportedly unable to tell them where she lived, they dropped her off in a subdivision; she was later hit by a car driven by a ride-share driver.
Madison passed away from her injuries at a hospital.
Speaking with DailyMail, lawyer Ron Haley, who’s representing the defendants, said that Carver “stated he overheard his 17-year-old friend as he asked the victim five times if she wanted to have sex with him.”
“Mr. Carver stated the victim gave verbal consent.”
Haley added that Brooks then got into an argument with Carver, who was driving the vehicle and became flustered when Brooks gave him three different addresses to drop her off at.
“It is conversation – pretty much an argument – between her and the driver of the vehicle, which is Carver,” Haley said. “Carver was frustrated that this was the third address that she had given and she wanted to go apparently to another location. It’s him saying, listen we can’t do this all night, make up your mind where you want to be.”
An autopsy revealed that Brooks’ blood alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit, and all four of the suspects had been drinking at the bar. Only the 28-year-old Lee, however, was drinking legally, as the drinking age is 21.
Washington and the 17-year-old have been charged with third-degree rape, which Louisiana law says involves a victim who is “incapable of resisting or of understanding the nature of the act by reason of a stupor or abnormal condition of mind produced by an intoxicating agent or any cause and the offender knew or should have known of the victim’s incapacity.”
Carver and Lee have been charged with principle to rape, which means they were present but did not take part and did nothing to stop it.
Washington reportedly recorded parts of the interactions during the last hours with Brooks, which showed the argument breaking out between Brooks and Carver.
Haley explained that Brooks agreed to get out of the care after the argument, which ultimately led to her death.
“She gets upset with them and uses some choice language directed at Carver. After that he verbally asked her to get out of the vehicle. She acquiesces and says, that’s fine I’ll Uber to wherever I need to go next. That pretty much is it. She got out at a parking lot of an apartment complex at the Pelican Lakes subdivision. After they had driven off, she walked to Burbank Drive and was hit by another vehicle.”
Haley also claimed that Brooks “absolutely” consented to sex, according to WAFB 9.
“Absolutely not a rape. Listen this is a tragedy, definitely not a crime,” Haley said. “Can you tell, that she was intoxicated? Yes–to the point under the law that you say you’re in a drunken stupor, to the point that you cannot lawfully give consent or answer questions, absolutely that was not the case.”
LSU President William F. Tate IV said in a statement that what happened to Brooks “was evil” and that the university, which frequently appears on lists of top “party schools” in the United States, would “take action.”
“Our action plan starts with a deep and relentless focus on any establishment that profits off our students by providing alcohol to underage individuals. In the coming days, we will call a meeting with these business owners to discuss how their responsibilities directly impact the safety of our students. We will work openly against any business that doesn’t join us in efforts toward creating a safer environment for our students. Enough is enough.”
Tate also called on Baton Rouge business leaders and residents “to work together and join us in this effort.”
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[Featured image: Madison Brooks/Handout]
Additional reporting by KC Wildmoon
