Princeton grad cleared in Palestra case

But the man's friend is now suspected of throwing a firecracker at last year's Penn-Princeton game. and Griff Witte The Daily Princetonian Though the verdict means that Brasno's eight-month ordeal is now over, friend and classmate David Meehan's legal troubles are just beginning. In explaining his verdict, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge A.J. DeFino said Meehan's confession to the crime on the first day of the September 16 trial was enough to establish reasonable doubt that Brasno had thrown the firecracker. Despite the prosecution's efforts to portray Meehan's testimony as part of an elaborate cover-up in which Meehan would take the fall for his friend, DeFino said such a scheme was not plausible. "I don't think [Meehan's] father would let him take the witness stand and commit perjury," DeFino said, noting that Meehan's father is an attorney. After the ruling was announced, Assistant District Attorney Jan McDermott said although she is still convinced of Brasno's guilt, she would recommend Meehan be extradited and booked on the same charges as those that Brasno faced. The charges, which include the felony of risking or causing a catastrophe, could mean a maximum of up to seven years in prison if Meehan is convicted. In the day's major testimony, Brasno's attorney Richard Brown called his client to the witness stand. "I first became aware of the firecracker when it exploded in the air," Brasno testified, his voice calm and steady. Brasno and Meehan were sitting next to one another during the game, and while both were initially detained for questioning after the firecracker exploded at the start of the third quarter, only Brasno was arrested. Though the court never established why one was arrested and not the other, Brasno said he had used profanity in addressing the police officers, while Meehan stayed quiet. "They picked out my client because he was mouthier than Meehan was," Brown said. "Meehan had the good sense to keep quiet." Nevertheless, Brasno said he was not angry with his friend. "I'm pleased that he's been man enough to step up and take responsibility for his actions," said Brasno, who spent two nights in a Philadelphia jail after the incident before Meehan bailed him out. During cross-examination, McDermott sought to poke holes in Brasno's story by suggesting that he had pressured Meehan to confess to Princeton deans. Because Brasno was on disciplinary probation at the time and Meehan's record was clean, McDermott suggested Brasno had more to lose. Brasno would only say that he had told Meehan "to do what was right." Brown countered McDermott's allegations of a cover-up in his closing remarks by saying the idea was preposterous. "Because you're friends, you might lend someone $10. But you don't perjure yourself," he said. DeFino's decision was consistent with the one Princeton officials reached months ago when Brasno was absolved of all responsibility, and Meehan was prohibited from receiving his diploma until January. "It's somewhat puzzling to me as to why they didn't come to that conclusion earlier," said Associate Dean of Student Life Kathleen Deignan. Princeton won the game 78-72 in overtime.