Webster, 38, is still at the ICU of the Guam Regional Medical Center. Photo: Supplied / Mark Rabago
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) in the Northern Marianas said it will not charge any person in the accident that left Webster Taracatac paralyzed from the shoulder down following a scuffle on 21 March game on Saipan.
The OAG identified the persons in the scuffle with Taracatac, a father and son.
"From the surveillance, it did not look that the son intended to have Taractac fall the way he did. It seemed that as they wrestled, they both lost balance and fell.
After they fell, the son was not seen making any more attempts to go after Taractac, before being pulled away," read a "basketball fight intake" memo from chief prosecutor Chester Hinds to Attorney-General Edward Manibusan.
Hinds added that from the interviews done and the surveillance, there is no evidence that Taractac's unfortunate injuries were intentionally caused by the son.
"These types of situations happen in sports. Nothing that was done seemed excessively violent or premeditated. Therefore, the Commonwealth will not charge anyone in this incident," Hinds said.
Taracatac's sister, Shiela, said the family will not make a statement yet on the OAG's decision as they're still weighing their options.
Hinds started his memo by saying that fights or scuffles during sports games are often seen as part of the game.
"For an act during a game to result in criminal charges it must go beyond the scope of the game. Actions that go beyond the accepted norms of the sport, such as excessive violence, or premeditated attacks, could be charged criminally depending on severity of the injury sustained."
Due to level of injury sustained by Taractac, Hinds said the Commonwealth would consider aggravated assault and battery, and/or assault and battery as possible charges.
For the Commonwealth to charge a person with either of these, he said the Commonwealth must believe that the act that caused the harm was done intentionally, and that there is enough evidence to able to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
