Pierce willing to testify

[Treehugger]

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Don't know how much of this is new info.

 

Attorney: Pierce will testify before grand jury if asked

Associated Press

 

Updated: December 4, 2008, 1:26 PM ET

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Antonio Pierce didn't know New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress was carrying a gun last weekend until it accidentally discharged, injuring the receiver in the right thigh, Pierce's attorney said Thursday.

 

"He had no idea Plaxico had a weapon," attorney Michael Bachner said Thursday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

 

Bachner said Pierce would cooperate with authorities and testify before a Manhattan grand jury about the incident if asked to testify, which has yet to happen.

 

"Antonio has always taken a position that he will be cooperative in the investigation with law enforcement and should Antonio be subpoenaed to the grand jury, and we have no idea that is going to happen, but if he is he is going to abide by his obligations as a citizen," Bachner said.

 

Whether Pierce goes before the grand jury is up to the district attorney's office, Bachner said.

 

Although Pierce did take Burress to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, as he was instructed to do by a Giants trainer, he did not try to cover it up by registering Burress under a false name, Bachner said.

 

 

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Plaxico Burress turned himself in to police Monday after accidentally shooting himself last weekend.

 

"Other than bringing him to the hospital, he had no involvement in the administration process," Bachner said.

 

Bachner said he could not comment on a report that Pierce took Burress' gun to his home and later gave it back to Burress' wife, Tiffany.

 

Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said Thursday that the Giants alerted NFL security about the early Saturday morning shooting at a Manhattan nightclub, saying the team left it to the league to alert police. The NFL said its security department then did contact police.

 

On Wednesday night, Hanlon acknowledged Pierce called team trainer Ronnie Barnes after the shooting and that Barnes told Pierce to take the injured player to New York-Presbyterian.

 

Barnes wanted Burress near the Hospital for Special Surgery, which is located next door, in case the injury to his right thigh required any orthopedic work by team physicians.

 

The team said Mark Drakos, a doctor from the Hospital for Special Surgery who has treated Giants players in the past, examined Burress after he was paged by New York-Presbyterian. The team said it was a coincidence that Drakos was on call.

 

When Barnes arrived at the hospital, he asked to see Burress, by name, and was taken to the room where he was being treated. Barnes later learned Burress had been issued a hospital ID bracelet with an alias, and Hanlon said neither Barnes nor the Giants had any involvement with Burress being admitted under a false name.

 

While Barnes waited outside the room, an attending physician approached Barnes and said Burress had suffered no vascular injuries. She then returned to the treatment room. The team said Barnes did not know the doctor and was not in the room while she was treating Burress.

 

Dr. Josyann Abisaab has been suspended for not reporting Burress' gunshot injury, as required by law.

 

Abisaab, who's affiliated with the hospital and specializes in internal and emergency medicine, could not be reached for comment.

 

Police still want to interview the people at the hospital who treated Burress and did not report the shooting.

 

Burress has been charged with illegal weapons possession, a felony that requires a mandatory minimum 3½ years and a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted.

 

Authorities are trying to determine whether Pierce tried to cover up the shooting. Police say Pierce returned to New Jersey with Burress' gun in the glove compartment of his black Cadillac Escalade. Investigators have impounded the SUV to search it for any blood or gun residue.

 

Earlier Wednesday, Coughlin said there's no need to consider potential punishment of Pierce right now.

 

"There is no doubt we'll do the right thing," Coughlin added, "and that's no threat to the players, they know that."

 

Pierce is expected to play Sunday against Philadelphia, with the Giants (11-1) on the verge of clinching the NFC East and gaining a first-round playoff bye.

 

Even if the team makes the playoffs, Burress won't be a part of it.

 

The team fined and suspended Burress for four games -- which accounts for the rest of the regular season -- Tuesday. The Giants also placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means he won't be back for the playoffs.

 

The NFL Players Association, however, said in a statement that it was reviewing the Giants' actions and planned to file a grievance, saying Burress' collective bargaining rights were violated.

 

"I had a conversation with Plaxico. He was very humble. He was remorseful," Coughlin said. "Obviously that doesn't change anything. But you have to understand that he is part of our team and our concern is with he and his family's well being, and the ability of him to get through this circumstance and be healthy again."

 

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

 

 

Bye Bye Plax :bye:

[NightFire]

I thought the black community didn't rat on each other. I saw an interview with a rapper once who stated that he would rather die than rat a homie out.

[Treehugger]

I thought the black community didn't rat on each other. I saw an interview with a rapper once who stated that he would rather die than rat a homie out.

Plax is sunk with or without Pierce's testimony. He should cover his own ass.

[TaylorBanksCarsonVanPelt]

Yeah fuck that man. Plax brought the crap on himself. Pierce was playing big brother by trying to ride herd on him while he unwound at a club. Plus he took care of him in a critical situation trying to keep him from getting deeper into trouble. The main issue is that you have a holier than thou billionaire mayor who just forced the City Council to change the rules so that he could run for a third term lusting after this guys head. What did Plax do....rob Tiffany's? Hold up a liquor store? Both Bloomie and the quisling police commissioner Raymond Kelly are not satisfied in going after Plax; they want Pierce; they got the doctor who saw him all of 10 minutes; plus he tried to paint the Giants organization as if it were the Broke Backs or the Panty Raiders.

 

A classic overreach by a smarmy self interested politico. So if Pierce testifies in front of a grand jury he gets automatic immunity. Lastly, cock suckers like Bloomie, Kelly and the rich or powerful politicos have tax payer funded armed guards, police, Secret Service etc. Yeah Plax is a bonehead, and thank God he did not injure himself or others severely; but should this be played up like he shot Kennedy? It should have been limited to the Giants suspension and eventual banishment into obscurity; a huge City fine plus 1000's of hours of community service along with a suspended sentence.

[TaylorBanksCarsonVanPelt]

And originally Pierce said he had nothing to say; then the Police Commissioner jumped in and relayed to him and the Giants that he (Pierce) would be charged with obstruction to justice unless he testified. I guess the 5th Amendment does not apply.

[Nesta]

with all the cell phone cameras out there, I'm surprised we haven't seen a few post shooting pics yet.