The lawyer for one of the teenage suspects accused of raping a 18-year-old girl at Osborn Playground in Brooklyn has obtained smartphone video that shows the girl smiling and laughing during the alleged rape.
Attorney Kenneth Montgomery, who is representing Denzel Murray, 14, said the video footage — recorded by his client, shows the girl smiling and laughing while laying on the ground partially clothed.
“The demeanor of the victim matters, and they know it,” Montgomery said. “The grand jury should have an opportunity to view that video.”
The woman told police she was drinking beer with her 39-year-old father near the handball court at 9 p.m. on Thursday when 5 teenagers approached them and ordered her father to run.
But two of the suspects later told police they interrupted the girl and her father engaging in a sexual act in the park.
The suspects say the father, who was drunk, staggered away and the girl consented to sex.
When the father returned and threw a bottle at the suspects, one of them pulled a gun and the father ran off.
The father flagged down 2 patrol officers who returned with him to the park 15 minutes later. But the suspects were gone and the victim was stumbling around the park drunk.
Police found the girl’s clothing scattered around the handball court. She was treated for scratches and abrasions at Kings County Hospital.
All 5 teen suspects are in custody and will be tried as adults if the charges stick.
Denzel Murray and three of the 5 suspects appeared in court Tuesday. Attorneys for Shaquell Cooper and Ethan Phillip, both 15, and Onandi Brown, 17, denied the rape allegations.
A fifth suspect, Travis Beckford, 17, was pulled out of class at Tilden High School at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. He was questioned by police then arrested and charged with rape, sex abuse and a criminal sex act.
Montgomery called the arrests “politically motivated.” He said none of the teenagers were identified by witnesses.
“They never alleged that my client had sexual contact. I think this is as weak as it gets,” he said in court.
A judge ordered the 14 and 15-year-olds held on $10,000 bail. The other 15-year-old is being held on $50,000 bail, and one of the 17-year-olds is held on $25,000 bail.
