Court Verdict Clears Stefon Diggs
NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs was acquitted of all criminal charges on Tuesday following accusations of assaulting and strangling his former live-in chef. A jury returned not guilty verdicts on one felony count of strangulation or suffocation and one misdemeanor count of assault and battery after a brief deliberation in a Dedham, Massachusetts, courtroom.
Details of the Allegations
The case stemmed from accusations made by Mila Adams, who had been employed as Diggs' personal chef since July. Adams alleged that an altercation occurred on December 2 during a dispute regarding unpaid wages from the previous month. According to the initial police report filed on December 16, Adams claimed that Diggs
“smacked her across the face” and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”Following the trial, it was noted during testimony by responding officer Kenneth Ellis that the accuser provided no medical documentation to support her claims of injury.
Defense Strategy and Testimony
Throughout the legal proceedings, Diggs’ legal team maintained his innocence, consistently characterizing the accusations as entirely false. Attorney Mitchell Schuster previously stated, “We are confident that when all the facts and evidence are reviewed, he will be fully exonerated.”
During the trial, the defense focused on challenging Adams’ credibility. A key witness, hairdresser Xia Charles, testified that she saw no physical evidence of injuries on Adams following the alleged incident. Charles, who was friends with Adams, noted that Adams stayed at her New York apartment on the day the assault reportedly occurred. She testified that she observed nothing unusual, stating she saw no bruising or indications of harm even while getting dressed alongside Adams the following morning.
Conclusion of the Trial
In his closing statement, defense attorney Andrew Kettlewell argued that there was not
“a single shred of credible evidence”to substantiate the prosecution's claims. Following approximately one hour of deliberation, the jury returned the not guilty verdict.
Stefon Diggs, 32, is an 11-year NFL veteran and four-time Pro Bowler. After playing for the New England Patriots last season, he is currently a free agent following his release from the team in March.