'I think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career,' Turk said. Instead, the jury believed a self-defense argument that Etute feared for his life after seeing the victim 'make a reach' toward his bed where a knife was later found.Įtute collapsed in tears as the verdict was read, with cheers erupting from a contingent of about 30 family members, supporters and former teammates.Īfter the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty of all charges Friday in the beating death of a Blacksburg resident following an online catfishing scheme.Įtute, a Virginia Tech freshman linebacker at the time of the incident in May 2021, had been charged with second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of five to 40 years, and the jury could have convicted him on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.
