The lawyer for the woman who has accused Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane of rape announced at a hastily convened press conference on Thursday that he has withdrawn from the case due to his discomfort with the manner in which he was provided this week with an evidence bag that was said to, at one point, contain rape kit results from his client.
Thomas Eoannou, the accuser's lawyer, only one day prior, held another press conference wherein he revealed his concerns over the handling of sensitive evidence, namely the results of a rape kit, performed the night of the alleged incident, which Eoannou said was delivered to the girl's mother's home empty, but torn open and crammed between the door and the storm door.
Eoannou reversed course on Thursday, announcing that he would no longer represent Kane's accuser.
"I no longer have the confidence in the manner and means in which that bag came to my office," Eoannou said, via Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports. "I looked into it, and I decided to withdraw."
Per Wyshynski, Eoannou made it clear that he believed the evidence bag was a rape kit and, more importantly, was from the Kane case. But he no longer belived the story behind it's arrival in his possession, suggesting a "fabrication" may have been involved.
"The manner in which is was presented to me, in which I received it, I'm uncomfortable, and thus I do not believe the version of events is accurate. I called this press conference to let everyone know my concerns and that I'm withdrawing from the case," he said.
Kane's lawyer, Paul Cambria, held his own press conference after Eoannou's previous briefing, stating his satisfaction with the state of the investigation and the results of the rape kit.
The Hamburg County Police Department also responded to Eoannou's revelation that the bag had been delivered to the victim's mother, maintaining that "the chain of custody of evidence" in Kane's case is, and has been, "unassailable."
