A jury on Tuesday found former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs not guilty of assaulting his private chef, Jamila Adams, during a pay dispute. The trial in Norfolk County District Court lasted only two days.
Case Background
Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, had pleaded not guilty in February to charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery. The charges stemmed from a December 2 encounter at his home in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Adams, who worked as Diggs' live-in personal chef, testified that Diggs slapped and choked her during an argument over money and a planned trip to Miami. However, Diggs' attorneys argued that the alleged assault never occurred and questioned Adams' credibility.
Defense Arguments
Defense attorney Andrew Kettlewell told jurors during closing arguments that prosecutors had not presented “a single shred of credible evidence” that an assault occurred. The defense highlighted financial demands made by Adams, including an initial claim for $19,000 that later escalated to $5.5 million through her attorney. They also pointed to testimony from friends and employees who said Adams did not appear injured in the days after the alleged incident.
Witnesses including Diggs' chief of staff, massage therapist, a nurse, and his hairstylist testified that they saw Adams around the time of the alleged attack and that she said nothing about being assaulted. Cellphone videos showed Adams socializing and dancing, which the defense argued contradicted her claims.
Prosecution's Case
Assistant District Attorney Drew Virtue urged jurors to weigh Adams' testimony carefully, acknowledging she was not “a perfect witness” but arguing that her account should not be dismissed. Adams became emotional on the stand, describing how Diggs allegedly entered her room after an argument over text, slapped her, and choked her, leaving her struggling to breathe.
Adams testified that she met Diggs in 2022 on Instagram and that their relationship evolved from friendship to a sexual relationship before she was hired as a live-in chef. She said she was paid about $2,000 per week and believed she had not been fully compensated.
Judge's Instructions
During Adams' testimony, Judge Jeanmarie Carroll instructed her to answer questions directly and warned that nonresponsive answers could result in her testimony being stricken. Portions of her responses were removed from the record as nonresponsive.
Dedham police officer Kenneth Ellis testified that Adams arrived at the station visibly upset and crying, but he did not observe visible injuries or collect photographs. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that his investigation relied largely on Adams' account and text messages she provided.
The verdict brings a close to the legal proceedings against Diggs, who was a prominent figure during his tenure with the Patriots and other NFL teams.
