Spring Break
Men's basketball recruit Pratl to await verdict
Staff Report
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Sports
Shaun Pratl, a senior at Oak Lawn Richards High School and an Eastern men's basketball recruit, will have to wait until May 11 to hear his verdict.
A Cook County judge will announce a verdict in May after hearing testimony in the trial of Pratl, who was charged with assaulting an 18-year-old student, according to the Chicago Tribune.
This announcement came Tuesday during the one-day bench trial at the Cook County courthouse in Bridgeview.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kerry Kennedy will make a ruling May 11.
Michael Hennigan, a friend of Pratl's, is a co-defendant in last year's alleged assault of the victim at an underage drinking party in Oak Lawn.
Prosecutors alleged in the one-day bench trial Tuesday that Pratl and Hennigan manhandled the victim and a friend at the Nov. 26 party after the men got mad after losing a drinking game, Andy Conklin, spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office, told the Chicago Tribune.
Hennigan allegedly shoved the victim to the ground while Pratl pushed the victim against a garage door, injuring the victim, the newspaper reported.
The newspaper also reported defense attorneys argued that the victim, who attends Mother McAuley High School, started the fight and alleged the victim's testimony contradicted statements the victim gave to police last December.
Eastern sports information director Rich Moser said the athletic department had no comment at this time.
Pratl, who signed in November, served a one-game suspension and had to perform 25 hours of community service along with two other student-athletes.
A Cook County judge will announce a verdict in May after hearing testimony in the trial of Pratl, who was charged with assaulting an 18-year-old student, according to the Chicago Tribune.
This announcement came Tuesday during the one-day bench trial at the Cook County courthouse in Bridgeview.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kerry Kennedy will make a ruling May 11.
Michael Hennigan, a friend of Pratl's, is a co-defendant in last year's alleged assault of the victim at an underage drinking party in Oak Lawn.
Prosecutors alleged in the one-day bench trial Tuesday that Pratl and Hennigan manhandled the victim and a friend at the Nov. 26 party after the men got mad after losing a drinking game, Andy Conklin, spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office, told the Chicago Tribune.
Hennigan allegedly shoved the victim to the ground while Pratl pushed the victim against a garage door, injuring the victim, the newspaper reported.
The newspaper also reported defense attorneys argued that the victim, who attends Mother McAuley High School, started the fight and alleged the victim's testimony contradicted statements the victim gave to police last December.
Eastern sports information director Rich Moser said the athletic department had no comment at this time.
Pratl, who signed in November, served a one-game suspension and had to perform 25 hours of community service along with two other student-athletes.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story