Grant indicted for manslaughter
Wednesday, May 21, 2008By Mike Triplett
Saints defensive end Charles Grant was one of seven men indicted by a grand jury on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, stemming from a February altercation outside of a nightclub early Feb. 3 in Blakely, Ga.
Details of the indictment were published Tuesday on the Early County News' Web site. According to the report, the men were all charged because of their involvement in a fight that resulted in the death of Korynda Reed, 23, a pregnant bystander who was shot and killed by a stray bullet during a nightclub fracas. Grant, 29, who was stabbed in the neck during the melee, also received misdemeanor fighting charges.
Grant's attorney Edward Tolley of Athens, Ga., described the indictment as one of the "most unusual" he has seen.
"I assure you we intend to plead not guilty and put up a pretty vigorous fight," Tolley said.
The Saints are aware of the development but had no comment, according to vice president of communications Greg Bensel. Early County officials could not be reached for comment and neither could Grant.
Tolley said that Grant will arrange to turn himself in soon, then follow the legal process.
"I think all the evidence is that Grant did not participate in a fight, start a fight or shoot a gun," Tolley said. "It's created a unique indictment. We'll have to do the best we can to sort this out."
Laquient Macklin also was indicted on the more severe charges of felony murder, feticide and aggravated assault for allegedly firing the weapon that caused Reed's death.
In February, Capt. Will Caudill of the Early County Sheriff's Office said Grant was not considered an instigator or a willing participant in the fight, during which Grant was stabbed in the neck. Woodrow Gray was indicted on a charge of aggravated assault for attacking Grant. Gray also was one of the men charged with involuntary manslaughter. The others were Marshae Stromer, Anthony Williams, Jarvis Tinson and Rodreaco Gray.
"I pray for that girl and her family every night and hope they find out what really happened," Grant said in late March.
Neither the Saints nor the NFL are likely to react until more details become evident through the legal process. But the NFL has been coming down harder on off-the-field troubles. The league announced Tuesday that teams can be fined as a result of players' indiscretions, depending on the incident.
Blakely is near Grant's hometown of Colquitt in southwest Georgia. Grant starred collegiately at Georgia before being drafted by the Saints in 2002. He had a rocky season in 2007 since signing a seven-year contract extension that could be worth up to $63 million with incentives -- potentially the richest in Saints history.
He had 2.5 sacks last season, tying his career low. And he suffered a torn ligament in his left ankle Oct. 28 at San Francisco, an injury which he continued to play through for the remainder of the season. The Saints added some depth and insurance to their defensive end rotation when they signed veteran Bobby McCray in free agency.
Grant has been participating in the team's offseason program in New Orleans, but it's not clear if he will continue to do so in light of the indictment.
LINK
http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...410.xml&coll=1
Saints Grant indicted for manslaughter
Saints Grant indicted for manslaughter
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