Pacquiao's Trainer Freddie Roach Cleared of Assault Charges

Freddie Roach was all smiles today as the Jury hearing his case for assault ruled in his favor Friday.The case was filed by a former member of Manny Pacquiao's entourage.

The jury rejected claims by Gregorio Asuncion and wife Allyson that Freddie Roach assaulted him while he was inside the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

The alleged assault by Roach happened when visitors were being asked to leave the premises of the gym to give way for the close-door training of Pacquiao. Asuncion refused to leave the premises despite Roach's repeated requests.

Roach denied Asuncion's claim that the trainer punched him twice outside the locker room of the Wild Card Gym on October 20, 2008. According to court documents, Asuncion was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for a neck sprain and contusion to the head.

Roach testified this week that he only put his hands on the man's shoulders as he tried to shepherd him out of the gym when Pacquiao was beginning to train. He said he then squeezed Asuncion's shoulders in order to keep his balance when he felt Asuncion pull back.

Outside the courtroom Roach thanked the jurors for the favorable verdict and offered them tickets for the forthcoming Pacquiao-Clottey match on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

"I didn't get much sleep last night, but when I heard there was a verdict after such a short time I believed it was in my favor," Roach said.

"I'm not a bad person. I simply asked this man to leave and he didn't. I don't go around hitting people and if he wants to come back to the gym sometime he can."

(original article appeared @ Digital Journal )