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Three found not guilty in stabbing of Adams

2 min read

PITTSBURGH – A jury has found three men not guilty in connection with the stabbing and attempted carjacking of Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mike Adams last year.

The Allegheny County jury Wednesday returned not guilty verdicts on all charges against Dquay Means and Michael Paranay. Jerrell Whitlock was found not guilty of the most serious offenses but convicted of a charge of flight to avoid apprehension.

Prosecutors argued that Adams was stabbed during an attempted carjacking in June, but defense attorneys said a fight began after Adams knocked food out of Paranay’s hands.

Adams, a 6-7, 325-pound offensive lineman, was hospitalized for four days.

Before the verdict was reached, Paranay’s attorney, Randall McKinney, said Adams was “obliterated drunk, aggressive and out of control.” Means’ lawyer, Fred Rabner, said Adams’ account of events changed three times.

“It is perfectly appropriate to consider Mike Adams would lie,” Rabner said, saying the player was already on thin ice with the team. “He had a million reasons to lie.”

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Stone called the case “a simple credibility determination.” He said all that had changed in Adams’ story were specific details initially left out in the aftermath of the stabbing, and that Adams was forthright in his testimony and gave “calm, perfectly responsive answers.”

“If you believe Mike Adams, then you must convict all three men,” he said.

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