Former Suns Marcus, Markieff Morris not guilty of assault charges

PHOENIX — A jury found former Phoenix Suns players Marcus and Markieff Morris not guilty Tuesday of aggravated assault in the 2015 beating of a former acquaintance.

Had they been found guilty, the brothers faced the possibility of prison time and discipline from the NBA, including a minimum 10-game suspension.

The brothers’ attorney argued that statements from multiple witnesses proved they were not involved in the incident that left the victim, Erik Hood, in the hospital.

Hood told Phoenix police that he was repeatedly punched and kicked and sustained a fractured nose, abrasions and a large bump on his head.

Hood testified that his relationship with the brothers became strained because of a misinterpreted text message he sent their mother. He said there was nothing “improper” happening with him and their mother.

Prosecutor Daniel Fisher said Marcus Morris kicked the victim in the head and Markieff Morris acted as an accomplice because “they had an axe to grind” with the man who was beaten.

Defense attorney Timothy Eckstein said two witnesses, who went to break up the fight, placed the Morris brothers near the site but not as part of the altercation.

Those two witnesses both testified that Hood’s mentor tried to solicit them to implicate the Morris twins in their testimony for a cash payment in return.

Eckstein reminded jurors that Hood told authorities nine times that both twins were involved in the assault before changing his statement to say Markieff did not beat him but had been in the vicinity.

The defense attorney said Hood repeatedly lied during the investigation, and that Hood knew he had to “double down on Marcus” beating him because the case wouldn’t be worth anything without one of the brothers involved.

Two other co-defendants in the case pleaded guilty Sept. 13 to the same charges. The Morris brothers all pleaded not guilty.

Neither brother plays for Phoenix anymore. Marcus was traded to the Boston Celtics in July, and Markieff is now with the Washington Wizards.

Another defendant in the case, Gerald Bowman, was also found not guilty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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