Former NBA Star Calvin Murphy Acquitted of Sexual Abuse

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...toryID=7009423

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former basketball star Calvin Murphy was acquitted on Monday by a Houston jury on charges he sexually abused five of his daughters. Murphy, 56, had denied the claims he abused the five women between 1988 and 1991, when they ranged in age from 6 to 13.

The five daughters were born to women Murphy was not married to and were told not to acknowledge him publicly as their father. Murphy fathered 14 children with 9 women.

The National Basketball Association hall of famer and former Houston Rocket claimed the five women invented the charges in order to extort money from him.

Speaking to reporters after the verdict was delivered, Murphy said he hoped to reconcile with his daughters.

"I want to start the healing process," Murphy said. "My family is in turmoil right now."

Murphy was first accused of sexually abusing one of his daughters in 1994, but she later recanted the charges.

The 5 feet 9 inch sharpshooter played in the NBA from 1970 to 1983, averaging 17.9 points a game, before he retired and became a popular television announcer for the Houston Rockets.

He took a leave of absence from his television job after the charges were made.