Jabrill Peppers and his accuser take stand in Massachusetts domestic violence trial
QUINCY – New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers took the stand in his own defense Thursday as his trial on domestic violence charges got underway. Earlier in the day, Peppers admitted to cocaine possession. That charge was continued for four months without a finding.
As the trial began, Peppers' accuser was called as the first prosecution witness and testified about what she called physical abuse by the NFL player. Peppers' attorney described the woman as "a woman who's trying to get paid" after she filed a multi-million dollar civil lawsuit.
Peppers, 29, was arrested last October in Braintree. His accuser alleged that Peppers hit her, choked her, took her clothing, and put her outside. Peppers was also accused of pushing the woman down the stairs.
Both the prosecution and defense attorney Marc Brofsky say that Peppers and the woman were in a consensual sexual relationship.
Prosecutors said the incident began because the woman received a phone call from another man that "enraged" Peppers. Brofsky said that is not the case, and the incident began because the woman attempted to have unprotected sex with Peppers and would not leave his townhouse.
The woman declined medical treatment after the incident. She later filed a civil lawsuit against Peppers. During his opening statement, Peppers' attorney described the injuries as "next to nothing," saying she scraped her knee and only started seeing a doctor a day after hiring a high-profile civil attorney.
Jabrill Peppers takes witness stand
After testimony that took up much of the day on Thursday, the prosecution rested its case. Peppers then took the stand as the first defense witness around 4 p.m.
Peppers said he met his accuser in April 2022. Peppers said they had sexual encounters on around six occasions. He said at one point, the woman asked him to be in a committed relationship with her, but he declined and said he preferred to remain single.
After about 20 minutes with Peppers on the stand, court ended for the day. Peppers is expected to return to the stand Friday morning.
Jabrill Peppers trial
Earlier in the day, a jury was seated and the trial got underway. Several videos that Peppers recorded on his cellphone were introduced as evidence.
During her testimony, the woman said she received three phone calls from another man, and after the third call Peppers asked her to leave.
She said she called Peppers a name, and he then grabbed her with one hand around the neck and pushed her against the wall.
"Coach. I f---ed up"
Two Braintree police officers were called as prosecution witnesses.
Sgt. Brian Solimini was present at the Braintree Police Department while Peppers made a phone call to a person who was not identified. The phone call was played while Solimini was on the stand.
"Coach. I f---ed up," Pepper says. He can be heard saying "She didn't want to leave. ... She said I put my hands on her. I'm at the Braintree police station."
Video evidence
Peppers' accuser was on the stand for several hours before completing her testimony. While she was on the stand, prosecutors played the cellphone videos from the night in question.
In one video, Peppers can be heard telling the woman repeatedly to put her clothes on and leave his house.
"Why are you not leaving my house? Can you get out of my house?" he can be heard saying, asking the woman, "Who said you can put my clothes on? ... You're not taking my clothes with you."
Brofsky said at the start of trial that Peppers recorded the videos to protect himself from allegations by the woman, a technique the attorney said is advised by the NFL.
The prosecutor in the case asked the woman why she didn't leave the home when asked.
"Because I was naked," the woman responded.
Brofsky said the woman was laughing and smiling at the time of the alleged assault. The woman told the prosecutor she was laughing because she was nervous.
Civil lawsuit against Jabrill Peppers
Prosecutors asked the alleged victim why she filed a civil lawsuit.
"I filed a civil lawsuit because I wanted to hold him accountable," the woman said.
She said her lawsuit called for Peppers to offer her a personal apology and undergo therapy and anger management.
The prosecutor asked if the woman was aware of financial requests in the lawsuit. She said she relied on her attorney for the monetary terms. While on the stand, the woman said the lawsuit sought $9.5 million.
"It's not about the money. You can't put a number on trauma," the woman said when asked under cross-examination why she was asking for money.
Jabrill Peppers change of plea
Peppers' trial was scheduled to start Wednesday, but was delayed due to a water main break at Quincy District Court.
Before jury selection began on Thursday, the judge accepted Peppers' change of plea on the charge of possession of a Class B substance. The charge was continued for four months without a finding. Brofsky said Peppers has no criminal record and he's "been a model citizen everywhere he lived."
According to Brofsky, Peppers was tested 10 times or more a month after his arrest as part of the NFL's drug program. Peppers completed the program in December, and returned to the team.
Who is Jabrill Peppers?
Peppers was drafted by Cleveland in 2017 out of the University of Michigan and spent his first two seasons with the Browns. He also played with the New York Giants for three seasons before joining the Patriots. In 2024, New England signed Peppers to an extension and named him team captain.
Peppers was placed on the commissioner's exempt list in October, and removed from the list on November 25. He lost his team captain status following his arrest.
After returning to the team, Peppers played in two of the Patriots' final five games due to injury.
