LAWRENCE, Kan. _ Saleeha Soofi, the 19-year-old Kansas student accused of shoving and slapping KU basketball player Carlton Bragg during an argument at a fraternity party early Friday, is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 25 in Douglas County District Court.
Soofi was charged Wednesday with one count of battery, a Class B misdemeanor, and the same charge against Bragg was dropped after the Douglas County District Attorney's office said it obtained surveillance video. On Thursday, District Court Judge B. Kay Huff approved the district attorney's motion to dismiss the charge against Bragg.
No attorney was listed for Soofi in Douglas County court records. She has not responded to a request from The Star seeking comment.
According to a Wednesday statement by district attorney Charles Branson, the surveillance video showed a man and woman arguing in a stairwell; the woman shoved and slapped the man in the chest and placed her hands near the man's neck.
"After being struck by female, the male forcefully shoves her away from him causing the female to fall backwards up the ascending stairs behind her," according to the district attorney's statement.
Before the charge against Bragg was dismissed, his attorney filed a motion that said Bragg was yelled at and struck in the face by Soofi and that Bragg acted in self-defense.
Last Friday, Soofi told investigators that Bragg had punched her and shoved her down stairs. The district attorney's office said Wednesday its initial review found probable cause to file a complaint against Bragg but dismissed the charge based on the additional evidence.
According to court documents, the battery complaint against Soofi said she unlawfully and knowingly caused physical contact with Bragg in a rude, insulting or angry matter.
Bragg was reinstated to play for KU by coach Bill Self after the charge was dropped. Bragg missed Saturday's game but could return this Saturday, when KU plays Davidson at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.
