Nov. 06--From the moment Patrick Kane was accused of rape in his hometown of Hamburg, N.Y., in August, Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz's stance on the situation was to keep a close eye on it and remain patient until all of the facts of the case were in.
On Thursday, Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita III announced that no charges would be filed against Kane because of "significant material inconsistencies" between the woman's claims and those of witnesses and also contradictory physical and forensic evidence that didn't support her allegations.
"It was always important to let the facts bear out," Wirtz said in a statement to the Tribune. "The report (Thursday) morning was very thorough; the District Attorney was very clear and beyond that, there is little else to say."
Kane is still not yet in the clear when it comes to the NHL as the league could still discipline the 26-year-old winger pending further internal investigation, but at least the Hawks organization knows the possibility of criminal charges has disappeared.
ckuc@tribune.com
