Denver Broncos' Marshall acquitted in Fulton abuse case

Marshall, 25, hugged his lawyer as the verdict was read. His former girlfriend Rasheedah Watley, who has accused Marshall of assaulting her several times, waited outside the courtroom after deputies said anyone emotional would have to leave.

Watley declined to comment about the verdict and rushed out of the courthouse. Her father tried to restrain an Associated Press reporter as she tried to question Watley.

In March 2008, Watley accused Marshall of pushing her on a bed and grabbing her neck inside the Atlanta condo they shared. She said the two got in a fight over her seeking a temporary protective order. Fulton solicitors showed photographs detailing Watley’s injuries, including a busted lip, bruises and scratches on her neck and arm.

Watley testified Marshall had assaulted her several times and then would throw her out of the condominium where they both lived.

“I wanted him to stay away from me ... because of what he’s done in the past,” she said.

Marshall did not testify during the two-day trial. However, his defense attorney Harvey Steinberg accused Watley of being overly emotional and often starting fights. He also accused the woman of being only after Marshall’s money.

“She needs Mr. Marshall. She needs him in her life,” Steinberg told the jury during closing arguments. “She cannot let go. She wants to be in his life no matter what. When is she going to leave him alone?”

Fulton County solicitor Jamie Mack argued that Watley has been a victim of domestic violence throughout their relationship and suffers from “Battered Woman Syndrome.”

Mack accused Marshall of repeatedly exercising control over Watley, through violence, intimidation and with money. Mack denied defense attorneys’ accusations that the victim is only after money.

“Why didn’t she leave him? She loves him and she couldn’t afford to,” Mack said.

Marshall said he was confident he would be acquitted, but said he had butterflies while waiting for the jury.

Jurors declined to comment.

Marshall, who wore a Bronco-colored blue and orange tie, said he is just looking forward to returning to practice.

“I apologize to my teammates and the fans who stood by me and had to go through this as well,” he said.

The acquittal confirms Marshall’s future in the NFL. He was suspended a day last year for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. A conviction could have meant up to a year in jail and a lengthy suspension.

Throughout the trial, Marshall’s fiance sat in the audience. Marshall declined to say when they are getting married, but said he feels he can now start “a new life.”

That new life is focused on the Broncos and getting some “hardware” - Super Bowl rings - on his fingers.

But first, he planned to find a TV to watch his teammates open the preseason against the San Francisco 49ers Friday night.

Marshall has had other instances of alleged violence involving women in Atlanta, where he lives during the off-season, and in Colorado. Earlier this year, Atlanta police responded to a domestic dispute call involving the Pro Bowl receiver and his now-fiance. Police officers arrested the two on disorderly conduct charges. Charges against both have since been dismissed.

Staff Reporter Rhonda Cook contributed to this report.