Shilo Sanders testifies as things get heated in Day 2 of bankruptcy trial

Shilo Sanders testifies as things obtain heated in Day 2 of bankruptcy trial.

Key points

• Shilo Sanders testified that a security guard assaulted him in 2015, contradicting a 2022 court ruling.
• But then when Darjean tried to collect on that judgment in 2023, Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to try to free himself of the debt.
• Brent Schrotenboer explains why Deion Sanders son, Shilo Sanders, is in court, where $11 million is at stake.
• Sanders is in a bankruptcy trial to discharge an $11.89 million judgment he owes the guard, John Darjean.
• He wants the debt removed accordingly so Sanders can obtain a "fresh start." Deion Sanders testified for a minute via a 2018 video.

Shilo Sanders testifies as things obtain heated in Day 2 of bankruptcy trial. Brent Schrotenboer USA TODAY. Explaining the Shilo Sanders bankruptcy trial.

Sanders' testimony differs from other witnesses and evidence presented in the case.

DENVER – Former Colorado football player Shilo Sanders testified at his bankruptcy trial here Tuesday, Sept. 1, that a security guard at his school "attacked and assaulted" him in 2015 – not the other way around as a Texas state court discovered in 2022 when it issued an $11.89 million judgment against Sanders.

Sanders, son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, testified the security guard, John Darjean, additionally caused him to fear his life, choked him, caused him to "black out" and starting tearing the skin off his arm when he grabbed it in an attempt to confiscate his phone at school.

Sanders testified he was in "excruciating pain" since of it and was "choke-slammed" by Darjean into a corner, causing him to "hit my head as hard as possibly could happen."

"I literally have proof of both of his hands tearing my skin off, " Sanders testified.

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This is the same security guard whom Sanders owes the $11.89 million judgment and is now fighting at this trial to obtain out of that debt. This was additionally the first time Sanders, 26, testified concerning the incident after not showing up for the civil trial in 2022.

"I was a scared little guy, " Shilo Sanders testified, noting he was only 15 years old at the time. He denied ever striking Darjean. This person watched the testimony in court shaking his head in disbelief. Shilo Sanders' testimony contradicts other evidence.

As well as other investigations into this case that absolved Darjean of blame, the difficulty for Sanders is his testimony contradicts what other witnesses have stated in the trial so far. Sanders' version of events additionally doesn't explain why Darjean had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance right after the incident while Sanders walked away from it with no visible injuries.

This was Day 2 of Sanders' bankruptcy trial, and it obtained a little heated at the end when Judge Michael Romero raised his voice a little when Darjean's attorney, Ori Raphael, appeared to be arguing with Sanders on the witness stand.

"Just stop, " Romero informed them. "Just ask questions. Just answer his questions. Let's not obtain into an argument between the two of you. It's the end of the day. Tempers are getting a little high." Here is what happened Tuesday and what's at stake. What is going on at Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial?

It's all regarding an incident at Shilo Sanders' school in Dallas on Sept. When Darjean remarked he tried to confiscate Sanders' phone at school pursuant to school policy, 17, 2015. Darjean concluded up at the hospital shortly afterward as he noted Sanders swung a roundhouse elbow into his upper chest and punched him in defiance.

Darjean sued Sanders over it in 2016, accusing him of permanently injuring him that day. The end result of that lawsuit was a $11.89 million default judgment against Sanders after Sanders failed to appear at the trial in 2022.

"Shilo Sanders did in fact cause physical harm and injuries to John Darjean by assaulting him" that day, the judge in the Texas case wrote in her final judgment in 2022.

For context, the matter to be determined at trial is whether he can discharge the debt or if he will remain on the hook for it. Under bankruptcy law, debtors are not allowed to discharge debt under certain exceptions, including if the debt stems from a "willful and malicious injury."

Darjean's attorney has argued he is not entitled to a discharge since the debt does stem from a willful and malicious injury. That's what he's trying to prove.

In Sanders' defense, Sanders' attorney, Victor Vital, remarked at trial Monday his client's actions were justified that day as he "acted reactively to escape" Darjean and break free from his "manhandling grip."

"There was no intent to injure, " Vital remarked. He wants the debt removed accordingly so Sanders can obtain a "fresh start." Deion Sanders testified for a minute via a 2018 video.

Deion Sanders additionally testified at trial Tuesday via a prerecorded video from a prior deposition in Darjean's Texas lawsuit. The testimony only lasted regarding a minute under terms of a ruling produced by the judge regarding whether Deion Sanders would testify at this trial.

In this testimony from 2018, Deion Sanders remarked Darjean called him that day as he was "dealing with a situation with Shilo." Deion Sanders noted he informed Darjean to handle it "like you would anybody else." Shilo Sanders is asked why Darjean left in an ambulance.

When he contradicted previous witnesses whose testimony was shown by video Monday and Tuesday, by contrast, Shilo Sanders was on the stand close to two-and-a-half hours Tuesday afternoon. Those witnesses testified Sanders elbowed Darjean in the throat or punched him or both with no apparent provocation, according to what they saw in person or on surveillance video that apparently obtained deleted years ago. None testified Darjean was the aggressor.

Those witnesses additionally stated Shilo Sanders kicked or tossed chairs at the school in an agitated state. Shilo Sanders disputed that, too. "I don't know where they were getting that from, " Sanders testified.

He remarked Darjean had no business touching him at all even though it was his job to confiscate the phone.

Since I was getting choked, ' Sanders remarked, I was just a young kid that just obtained attacked by a grown man and just secured scared for my life for a second.

Asked why Darjean left in an ambulance that day, Sanders remarked he didn't know for sure.

"I don't know what injuries he could have sustained during that, " Sanders remarked.

In practice, the trial resumes Wednesday with more testimony projected from Shilo Sanders. The trial is projected to last through Friday with a decision from the judge coming after that. Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [email protected]. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around shilo Sanders testifies as things get heated in Day 2 of bankruptcy point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.