Video After The Jump
(Houston Chronicle) The video of University of Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon brutally punching a female student in 2014 was released by Mixon's attorney Friday.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 6 that the city of Norman should release the video showing the punch to the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, which had sued for access to the video under the Open Records Act. The city had not released the video yet.
"While Mr. Mixon is not a party to the OAB lawsuit and has not been directed by the Court to make any disclosure, he does not see any reason for the release of the recording at issue in that lawsuit to be delayed any longer," Mixon's attorney, Blake Johnson, wrote in a letter.
"Further delay appears only to be generating unfounded speculation about what is shown in that video," the attorney wrote. "We also see no reason to withhold the second recording we received from Ms. Molitor's attorneys and so have included it as well."
Mixon, 20, accepted a plea to the misdemeanor charge of acts resulting in gross injury.
Andrea Molitor, the student, suffered several broken bones in her face as a result of the punch. She is suing Mixon.
The running back was suspended for the 2014 season before playing his freshman year in 2015. He played 11 games for the Sooners this season.
The university issued a statement following the release of the video:
"University officials were made aware of the content of the video prior to taking action with respect to Joe Mixon. Based on that information, the university immediately suspended and removed Mr. Mixon from the football team for one year, during which high standards of conduct were expected and maintained. It was made clear to Mr. Mixon at the time of his suspension that violence against women will not go unpunished at the university. Coach (Bob) Stoops has been proactive in presenting training for his team aimed at preventing such behavior in the future. Sensitivity training in the area of violence has been intensified and best practices will continue to be implemented. Mr. Mixon has apologized for his actions and the university hopes that it is an indication that he has learned from his mistakes. We are an educational institution where we hope young people will learn from their mistakes and chart a better future course."
Releasing the video of the punch now avoids the possibility the city of Norman would release it days before OU plays Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.
"Mr. Mixon asked us to once again say he is sorry for the way he reacted that night. He has apologized publicly to Ms. Molitor, her friends, his family, teammates and the University," Johnson wrote in the letter. "He hopes that his voluntary release of these recordings will help put this matter to rest."
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