Ex-Giants star Plaxico Burress plans to testify Wednesday before a grand jury investigating his accidental self-inflicted shooting at a Manhattan nightclub.
Defense lawyer Ben Brafman said the former Big Blue wide receiver would give an honest account of the shooting that left him with a minor leg wound.
"He's going to go in and tell the truth," Brafman said. "He's going to ask the grand jury for their compassion and understanding."
The surprise appearance comes as NFL teams open their training camps and Burress faces an increasingly uncertain football future.
Burress, who pleaded not guilty in the case, remains free on $100,000 bond.
Burress, 31, shot himself in the thigh last November while entering a Manhattan night club with teammate Antonio Pierce.
Authorities said the pair then engaged in a crude coverup, grabbing Burress' .40 caliber Glock and using a phony name when the wounded wideout arrived at a Manhattan hospital.
His next scheduled court appearance was Sept. 23, although the grand jury began hearing the case this month. Burress could face a sentence of 3-1/2 to 15 years if convicted on both counts of weapons possession.
Burress could also be suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Goodell has indicated, however, that he may wait until the legal process runs its course before deciding whether to take action against Burress. - NY Daily News
It sounds like this is Plaxico's last chance to somehow avoid jail time because apparently the District Attorney already turned down a plea deal for 1 year of jail time from Burress attorney. He is likely getting jail time, but it is just a question of how much? His last chance will be tomorrow, he will speak in front of the Grand Jury. If the Grand jury indites him on gun felony charges then he is in trouble, if they don't then he has a shot to avoid jail time, no pun intended.
Looking at this on the surface it seems pretty harsh for someone to get likely a year or more of jail time for shooting himself in the leg. I believe this law got changed once the J-lo and P Diddy shooting, where either P Diddy or someone is his crew fired a gun in a nightclub. After that incident the law got much stricter in New York. So, really Plax needs to be upset at P Diddy, just kidding.
It does seem the D.A. is trying to get his name out there and make a statement by putting Plax behind bars, and he is even pursuing getting jail time for Antonio Pearce, which seems overboard since he was trying to help his buddy out. This could drag on for a long time, and that doesn't help anyone.
I'm sure tomorrow Plax will say he brought for protection and with other Pro Athletes getting robbed and so on he needed to have it with him. However, it was unregistered, and stay out of night clubs! It is pretty easy, so although I think more than a year is excessive, Plax put himself in that situation. It looks we will have another top NFL player behind bars soon, and if he wants to sign with the Bears when he gets out, we will gladly take him. - SF 58
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