The Penn student shot in the failed carjacking had strong words for U. administrators. and Sabrina Gleizer The seven women and five men of the jury charged with determining the future of the man accused of shooting a Penn student during an attempted carjacking in November 1997 began their deliberations yesterday afternoon and were excused for the day before reaching a verdict. Though the most serious charge against 34-year-old Keith Schofield -- attempted murder -- was dismissed by Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Lewis, Schofield still faces counts of aggravated assault, robbery, attempted carjacking and related charges. The charges stem from the failed November 17, 1997 carjacking of then-College senior James McCormack on the 4200 block of Pine Street. In an interview after the day's proceedings, McCormack criticized those in the University who dealt with his case, especially President Judith Rodin, who visited him in the hospital the day after the shooting. McCormack said that Rodin "was begging me not to talk to the press" about the violent incident. "They're all vultures," he claims she said to him. Rodin was unavailable for comment last night, but University spokesperson Ken Wildes called it "highly unlikely" that she made those comments. He declined to comment further. McCormack, who took some time off after the shooting and is scheduled to officially graduate after this semester, also questioned the University's commitment to reducing crime. "Nothing changes as a result of anyone being shot," McCormack said. "I'm not the first. I'm trying to get [the University] to take responsibility." The prosecution's case rests almost entirely on McCormack's positive identification of Schofield as his assailant. "I believe McCormack's testimony is enough," said Assistant District Attorney Dino Privitera, the case's prosecutor. "He is the case." But Schofield's attorney disagreed. "McCormack's identification is their only evidence," said public defender Joseph Levin. "Simply because he says it doesn't mean it's right." The defense contended during the trial that several external factors compromised McCormack's ability to make a positive identification, including darkness, underlying trees, brevity of the incident, McCormack's fear for his life and police interference. Levin also maintained that University and Philadelphia police officials mishandled the investigation. He charged that Philadelphia Police Detective Michael Sharkey pursued Schofield as a suspect because he was "seeking retribution" after Schofield refused to give him information he wanted in an unrelated case. "The reason [McCormack] is making the mistake [is] two words: Detective Sharkey," Levin said during his closing statement. Both Privitera and McCormack said they were confident that the strength of the prosecution's case will win a conviction. Before the jury began its deliberations in the Schofield case yesterday, it heard rebuttal testimony from University Police Sgt. Peg O'Malley, who said the defense's two star witnesses -- who said they saw a man they claim is the assailant not matching Schofield's description running from the scene -- were unreliable.
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