Lawrence, Kansas - Terrence Shannon Jr., the highly regarded University of Illinois men's basketball player, breathed a sigh of relief as a Douglas County jury declared him not guilty of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman at a bar near the University of Kansas campus. After approximately 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury unanimously returned the verdict, acquitting Shannon of charges of rape and aggravated sexual battery.

Throughout the trial, Shannon, 23, remained composed, while the accuser and her friend appeared emotionless. Shannon's mother, Treanette Redding, burst into tears upon hearing the verdict, expressing her relief outside the courtroom. She defended her son, stating that the accusations did not align with his character, and she always believed he was innocent. Redding expressed gratitude that justice had been served.

Following the trial, Shannon left the courthouse without addressing the reporters. His attorney, Tricia Bath, described the length of the legal process as a travesty, adding that the correct verdict had been rendered, but the case should not have reached this point in the first place. Another defense attorney, Mark Sutter, went on to state that the public owed Shannon an apology, as he endured heavy scrutiny and ridicule throughout the ordeal. Sutter maintained that Shannon's innocence was affirmed by the jury of his peers.

On the final day of the trial, Shannon took the stand, vehemently denying the allegations. He denied any physical contact with the accuser during a trip he undertook to Lawrence with two others to watch a football game between the University of Illinois and the University of Kansas.

In his closing arguments, Senior Assistant District Attorney Ricardo Leal highlighted the contrasting lives of two college students: a typical female junior college student who reluctantly attended a bar outing with her friend, and Shannon, an atypical college athlete with a prominent status. Leal claimed that Shannon exhibited a sense of entitlement and asserted that he would obtain anything he desired.

Sutter, in his closing arguments, criticized the case as a travesty and called into question the credibility of the police investigation conducted by a Lawrence police detective. He argued that scientific evidence and a lack of effort to apprehend the true perpetrator exonerated Shannon.

Deliberations ensued shortly before 2 p.m., and the jury swiftly reached a verdict at around 3:30 p.m. The prosecution's case predominantly relied on testimony from Shannon's accuser and her best friend, who accompanied her on the night of the alleged encounter. The 18-year-old testified that Shannon approached her and pulled her towards him, leading to a distressing incident where she alleged that he touched her inappropriately. The surveillance footage presented in court captured Shannon and the woman in the bar just before the alleged incident, but did not provide evidence of the encounter itself.

After the incident, the accuser recalled feeling uncomfortable, but she remained in shock and did not react immediately. She later pushed through the crowd to leave the bar and search for her friend. The emotional distress she experienced prevented her from driving home.

The trial's conclusion not only brought relief to Shannon but also raised questions about the accuracy of the initial accusations. As the basketball star departs the courthouse, he can now focus on his promising basketball career without the lingering shadow of these charges.