During opening statements, Prosecutor William Terrence said, "After the car smacked into the building, the defendant didn't get out, write his insurance information or his number to reconcile the damage. Instead, the defendant simply drove away."
Shirley was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the NFL draft. His defense attorney Chuck Magill said Shirley was not drunk. Magill claimed the former bulldog suffered a concussion three days before the accident. He said, "It explains his conduct with something that's not criminal. It explains the conduct of backing into a building as an explanation not that he was under the influence of alcohol but he was under the influence of the concussion."
The defense asked jurors to listen to all the evidence before reaching a verdict. It's a decision that could impact Shirley's NFL career. If convicted, Shirley could face up to a year in jail.
