NEWS

Witness in UC QB's trial: 'I could tell he was mad'

Kevin Grasha
kgrasha@enquirer.com

The circumstances surrounding the single punch thrown by Jarred Evans that knocked out a fellow University of Cincinnati student last year remain unclear after three days of testimony.

Prosecutors have said the Oct. 19, 2014 incident was like a "knockout game." Prosecutors say Evans, without being provoked, "blindsided" 20-year-old Ryan Smith, sending him face-down to the pavement.

Evans' attorney has said a group – described Thursday during Evans' trial as about half a dozen college-age men – shouted racial slurs at Evans and his girlfriend outside a University Heights bar. One or more of the men in the group, attorney Paul Laufman said, directed comments toward Evans about interracial dating. Evans is black, and his girlfriend is white.

Laufman has said Smith stood in front of Evans, confronted him and "(came) at him" before Evans threw the punch.

Smith was left lying in the middle of the sidewalk on Calhoun Street, bleeding from his head. Evans, 22, a backup quarterback for UC's football team, fled but was arrested within about 10 minutes. The incident happened shortly after 2 a.m. near Uncle Woody's Pub.

Smith, a sophomore, testified earlier this week that he wasn't part of the group of men. A witness on Thursday, Courtney Gravett, who is Evans' girlfriend's roommate, said Smith was walking about 10 to 15 feet behind the group. She said she didn't see anyone confront Evans.

There also was testimony from a police officer who responded to the incident, who said two of Smith's roommates left him bleeding on the sidewalk.

"Did you get their names?" Laufman asked Cincinnati police Officer John Neal.

"No," Neal responded. "After they stated they didn't see anything – they left."

Gravett, 22, tended to Smith, told him to be calm as they waited for paramedics to arrive, according to her testimony.

Gravett said she, Evans and his girlfriend left the bar shortly before the incident. Outside, Evans was hugging his girlfriend, consoling her after a disagreement.

But then something angered Evans, and he began shouting at the group of men.

"I could tell he was mad," Gravett said. She tried to stop him from going after the group.

Evans pushed past Gravett, walked into the middle of Calhoun Street, she said, and continued yelling.

He then walked back to the sidewalk, Gravett said, and punched Smith.

When asked if anyone said something to Evans, Gravett responded, "I didn't hear anything."

Also Thursday, a spokeswoman for Evans' family said the family has concerns about the fact that an all-white jury has been seated for the case.

"The jury is not diverse at all," the spokeswoman, Kimberly Reese, said in an interview. "Those are not his peers in there."

Reese said Evans' parents, who were not in court for jury selection, are consulting with Evans' attorney to determine "whether anything needs to be done."

The trial is expected to conclude Friday.