The video depicting Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon striking a female OU student at Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe, resulting in facial fractures for her and a season-long suspension for him, has been released by Mixon's attorneys.
The release of the video comes after a two year legal battle involving Mixon and the woman he punched, Amelia Molitor, as well as the City of Norman and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. The City has argued that the video is not public record, but the broadcasters have protested that, saying that because the video was used as evidence in the case against Mixon, it is a public record.
Molitor, a senior at OU, and her legal team have filed motions to keep the video from being released.
The Daily and other news organizations have tried to obtain a copy of the video since the incident occurred in July 2014. Two Daily reporters — who have since graduated from OU — were among the media members who were shown the video in 2014.
The Daily believes the video is worth showing both because it involves a high-profile OU athlete and because the City of Norman has been adamant about concealing it.
The video is embedded below. It is graphic, and viewer discretion is advised.
Mixon has already been punished both by the legal system and by the university. He entered an Alford plea in 2014, allowing him to plead guilty while maintaining his innocence. He was on probation for one year and completed 100 hours of community service.
After viewing the video themselves in 2014, OU President David Boren, OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and OU head coach Bob Stoops decided to suspend Mixon from the football program for one year.
The University of Oklahoma released the following statement after the video was published:
"University officials were made aware of the content of the video prior to taking action with respect to Joe Mixon. Based on that information, the university immediately suspended and removed Mr. Mixon from the football team for one year, during which high standards of conduct were expected and maintained. It was made clear to Mr. Mixon at the time of his suspension that violence against women will not go unpunished at the university. Coach Stoops has been proactive in presenting training for his team aimed at preventing such behavior in the future. Sensitivity training in the area of violence has been intensified and best practices will continue to be implemented. Mr. Mixon has apologized for his actions and the university hopes that it is an indication that he has learned from his mistakes. We are an educational institution where we hope young people will learn from their mistakes and chart a better future course."
Oklahoma plays Auburn in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2017.
