US pop sensation Taylor Swift has been declared the winner in a duelling trial between herself and a Colorado DJ she accused of groping her during a 2013 pre-concert photo opportunity.
A federal court jury in Denver has found Robert Mueller guilty of assaulting and battering Swift by grabbing her bare bottom under her skirt and awarded her the symbolic $US1 she had sought in damages.
The same eight-member jury also rejected claims by Mueller that Swift’s mother and a member of her team cost him his job by making false groping accusations.
According to social media reports from the courtroom, Swift heaved a sigh of relief when the verdict was read and hugged her mother and legal team, while her mother wept. Mueller did not look at his lawyers.
Earlier on Monday, Swift cried during closing arguments from Mueller’s lawyer Gabriel McFarland before the jury began to consider their verdict shortly after noon (local time), according to USA Today and CNN.
“I don’t know what kind of man grabs or gropes a music superstar … But it’s not that guy,” McFarland said.
“Nobody saw what Ms Swift said happened … because it didn’t happen.”
McFarland said the photo of the encounter – which Swift used to prove her argument – showed that Swift was smiling at the time and could not have been as upset as she claimed to be.
“Look at Ms Swift’s face and ask yourself: Is that the face of a person who just had a strange man grab her butt?” he said to the jury.
Top Comments
What is absolutely abhorrent is the number of people shaminf Taylor for this incident. I read some comments on FB and one guy said that "women find it a complement to be groped". What? This is disgusting! I have been groped three times without my consent and one of those times was by my male math teacher. I was only young between 16 to 22. I still can't believe people think this is acceptable. Please parents, I beg any of you reading this, if you have children make it crystal clear to them that they can't touch people without their consent! It's absolutely horrific how normal people think this is.
No it looks like a woman who has had practice in smiling for the cameras no matter what is going on behind her back. (Pun intended)