Commentary: Five misconceptions about Ray Lewis' murder trial

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (L), looks up as testimony continues in his murder trial in Fulton Superior Court in Atlanta on May 31, 2000. / Photo credit should read KIM SMITH/AFP/Getty Images

This post was written by Eric Thomas of CBS Sports Radio's 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit

Ray Lewis seems poised to ride into the sunset like Jerome Bettis if the Ravens win in the linebacker's second championship game. Lewis looms large in a Super Bowl without superstars and gets the reflected glow of the big game. That spotlight exposes some gnarly fissures on him; some scabbed over scars of whispers and rumor. Self righteous types cluck their tongues to this day and mouth the word: "Murderer."

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Ray Lewis

His trial was thirteen years ago, so memories faded. When facts fall out of the mouths of commentators, there is a fast and loose quality to them. I have read articles recently shaded to indicate Lewis' implication in the murder and some that are flat out false.

There is prejudice here. It is undeniable that many associate Lewis' case with the Simpson case. They fill in the parts they don't know with details from OJ's eventual acquittal.

• CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman: Ray Lewis an inspiration - not a murderer
• CBSSports.com's Gregg Doyel on Ray Lewis murder case
• The road to Super Bowl XLVII on CBSSports.com

Here are five common misconceptions about the murder case involving Ray Lewis:

1. Ray Lewis was involved in a murder. Ray Lewis was an eventual witness in a murder case. He was charged with the murder of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar along with his two companions Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting. The murder charges stemmed from a vicious fight in Atlanta streets following a Super Bowl Party in 2000. Eventually, the case ended with the defendants acquitted for reasons of self defense. In the eyes of the court, no murder took place.

2. Ray Lewis' friends went to jail to protect him. This is in a lot of blogs and opinion pieces. It's just not true. No one in this case went to jail.

3. Ray Lewis refused to testify against his friends in the murder trial. It's the opposite. Ray Lewis started the trial at the table with Oakley and Sweeting. He flipped, pleading down to an obstruction of justice charge in exchange for testimony. Lewis was the state's star witness. Some sources say the three men were no longer friends because of the alleged betrayal. Ironically, the only person to serve any sentence in this case at all was Lewis. Had he not flipped, he likely would have walked away with the same acquittal as the other defendants.

4. The murders were never solved. This is written a lot, along with something to the effect that no other suspects were ever arrested. It doesn't seem to be in dispute that Oakley and Sweeting killed Baker and Lollar. The jury found that it was self defense after only a few hours of deliberation.

5. Ray Lewis is a murderer. Ray wasn't involved in the fight that killed the two men. His companions were. Lewis wanted no part of the fight, but not for some moral or noble reason. He wanted to avoid the conflict because he was concerned it might hurt his NFL career. Throughout the process, Lewis seemed consumed with protecting his then burgeoning NFL superstar status. He made them promise silence in the limo afterward and lied to police the morning after. He flipped on his buddies to avoid scrutiny.

[JoeScrotum]

Who cares given the fact the corpses were no benefit to society. This scenario should not trouble anyone.

Conversely, we all know what went down with the "slasher" and that $&#@ basketball player who snuffed an elderly limo driver with a shotgun, and then jumped naked into the swimming pool afterwards.

[Jenn222]

And furthermore, I don't care. Two thugs somehow died at the scene of some kind of confrontation. Ray Lewis has done so much good on and off the field. His life was not so good in his youth, but he made something special out of his life and has helped a lot of young men. I wish him all the best.

[Swift29]

Does anybody fathom the concept of Lewis ditching the suit simply because it was smeared with blood? Never ceases to amazed me. Now whether that "shows" he was near the victims as they were killed OR his buddies got his nice suit all red is another issue.

The news stories never say Lewis bought knives, only his hommies.
Agree about what weapons the other guys had. I've only read they threw bottles at the group in the club.

Still, I think it's likely Lewis copped because he was involved. Most important question, I think, is did he have and use a knife.
Overall I always conclude the stories state those killed were gang members and probably just didn't realize they were out of their league.

[andyk1234]

Umm, the myths are this article. Just because Ray Lewis was never implicated in the murder doesn't mean he didn't have a part in it. His white suit from that night was never found. Hmmm... suspicious? The author here sure doesn't think so.

He was given the treatment every celebrity in court is given, R. Kelly, Marvin Harrison, OJ Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Dante Stallworth... the list goes on and on.

[bradkt1]

Did the cops ever ask for his white suit?

[ilovebogo]

so true. My newphew and his friend was never found with a weapon. They were small framed men compared to these animals. And my newphew was running for his life and rand track and was fast, so it had to take someone fast to catch him. GO 49ERS!

[Danielbooner]

What were the weapons that the two murdered persons had? Lewis obviously disposed of the white suit he was wearing, if he was as clean as he wants everyone to believe why would he do that? The day before the altercation he and his friends were buying the knives involved in the murders at a sporting goods store. Too many questions left unanswered

Lewis will be the downfall of the ravens superbowl hopes. He's slow, runs like he's wearing cement boots, bad reaction times. Denver gave them the game. They don't even belong in the SuperBowl. Totally outclassed by the 49ers

[Swift29]

Does anybody fathom the concept of Lewis ditching the suit simply because it was smeared with blood? Never ceases to amazed me. Now whether that "shows" he was near the victims as they were killed OR his buddies got his nice suit all red is another issue.

The news stories never say Lewis bought knives, only his hommies.
Agree about what weapons the other guys had. I've only read they threw bottles at the group in the club.

Still, I think it's likely Lewis copped because he was involved. Most important question, I think, is did he have and use a knife.
Overall I always conclude the stories state those killed were gang members and probably just didn't realize they were out of their league.

[misterponder]

You can say whatever you want to say about Ray but I was there.I'm a eye witness.I was working on a video with a celebrity entertainment company in the Cobalt Club in Buckhead Atlanta that Sunday night. I was the key witness that testified at Ray's bond hearing. I told the truth. He probably would not have made bond had I not testified. To this day, no one has paid me a dime and to this day, I have not ask for a dime from anyone associated with Ray Lewis. The 2 young guys that started the fight were part of a robbing crew. They're responsible for their own deaths. They were crazy. Ray got into his limo just before the fight started. HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT. You people all need to get your lies straight. I testified under oath.Come down to the Fulton County Courthouse or call the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the trial transcripts before you keep running your mouths spreading lies. The transcripts are public records. You wish that Ray was guilty because you're racist and none of you ever did anything with your own miserable lives worth writing about.You're jealous. I don't like the Ray Lewis act that he always puts on. I'm really not even a Ray Lewis fan but the man is innocent of the charges. You guys are really something else.

[opedanderson2]

i was with u until the racist jealous part.

i am just tired of celebrities getting away with stuff

[aulbrandt]

If you really are telling the truth, then thank you for commenting. More facts need to be interjected into internet speculation. However, like the other person who commented on your rant, you lost me at the racist part. Not everything can be boiled down to racism. It is perfectly ok and normal for someone to have an opinion, good or bad, about a person of color that is not racially motivated. In fact, for you to assume all the Ray Lewis dissenters are racist white people, is in and of itself racist. Ironically, therefore, the only racist rant on this page is yours, even though it probably contains the most truth (a even further irony)...

[jnostromo]

Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, John Mackey, Gayle Sayers, Walter Payton all exemplary men and many more like them unlike today's thugs...Don't play the race card for lewis, he cannot even carry these heroes lunch buckets..

[andyk1234]

Exactly. If Walter Payton had been in the same situation Ray Lewis was in, he'd be treated the exact same. As a technically-innocent murderer. If Ray Lewis had lived his life like Walter Payton, Jim Brown, or any number of respectable black athletes, no one would vilify him. This author is just a die-hard Ravens fan or something.

[jnostromo]

This article still does not answer one question: Where is his white suit that he wore that night?

[TAM1103]

Who the F*CK cares?!?!? This is something that happened 13 years ago & Ray Lewis did NOT kill anyone! You HATERS are unbelievable. You just can't admit that Ray Lewis is great at what he does...you have to find something to degrade him. I guess you HATERS are perfect & never did anything wrong. People can learn from their mistakes & move forward in life & do better. STOP your HATING!!!

[Jenn222]

Oh Gosh!! I didn't see your comment. GREAT!! You said it right out of my mouth!!!!
Thank you very much!!! I'm not really a Ravens fan. I was more a 9er. But I did want Flaco, Lewis and Co. to win this SB XLVII. Love Kaep too, but he has time. He used to kid our butt for 4 years while at Nevada. Gosh! you said it so good!!! I'm 71, female and have always loved NFL football and MLB!!