Karkardi Sexual Assault Case Ends in Hung Jury
by David P. Greisman
A jury in the case of Hasan Karkardi has failed to reach a verdict on a charge that Karkardi had sexually assaulted a woman, though it did find the 26-year-old not guilty of falsely imprisoning her, according to British newspaper the Bristol Post.
Prosecutors now must decide whether to retry the case.
The case involving the 3-0 cruiserweight stemmed from an incident in which he allegedly led a drunk woman to a taxi in June 2013 and brought her back to his place.
Prosecutors alleged that Karkardi had “stripped down to just his boxer shorts, tried to kiss her and pinned her down on his bed. He put his hand into her underwear before she pushed him away. She managed to go to another room and then the police arrived and led her out,” the newspaper’s coverage of the trial said, citing testimony. The taxi driver had felt concerned during the drive when the woman had told Karkardi that she didn’t want to go to his place, and so the driver had contacted police after dropping them off.
Karkardi claimed that the woman went there willingly and that he neither attempted to kiss her nor tried to prevent her from leaving, according to newspaper coverage. He had immigrated to the United Kingdom about half a year before the alleged assault and said he did not yet know enough English to understand the woman when she asked to be left alone.
He turned pro in September 2013, a few months after the alleged assault and has gone 3-0 with 1 KO, with the last win coming via stoppage this past July.
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