A Louisiana man accused in the gang rape of LSU student Madison Brooks has requested that supporters of the victim be prohibited from wearing pink, her favorite color, in the courtroom during his upcoming trial. Desmond Carter, 21, and other defendants are accused of sexually assaulting Brooks, 19, in January 2023 in Baton Rouge shortly before she was fatally struck by a vehicle.
Carter's attorneys filed a motion in June, asserting that the repeated wearing of pink by Brooks' family and friends is intended to intimidate the jury and secure a guilty verdict. The motion contends that this practice violates Carter's right to a fair trial by fostering a "carnival atmosphere," citing previous Supreme Court decisions. Social media posts from Brooks' supporters have reportedly encouraged attendance at court sessions while wearing pink to ensure Carter receives a life sentence.
In response, prosecutor Sonya Cardia-Porter called the claims an "absurd exaggeration" and "unpersuasive." She described the victim's supporters as "silent, passive spectators wearing a particular color" and asked the judge to instruct the jury to disregard any spectator attire or displays. A decision on the motion is expected this week.
Carter faces charges of first-degree and third-degree rape. He was 17 at the time of the alleged assault but is being tried as an adult. The prosecution alleges that Carter, along with Kaivon Washington, 21, and Casen Carver, 22, sexually assaulted Brooks in the backseat of a car after leaving Reggie's bar. The defendants claim the encounter was consensual and that they left Brooks on the side of the road.
Security footage from inside the vehicle reportedly shows Brooks arguing with her alleged attackers before she stumbled out of the car, expressing a desire to call an Uber. Moments later, she was hit by a car. Investigators reported Brooks had a blood-alcohol content of 0.319% at the time of her death. The driver of the car that struck Brooks was arrested but not charged, as they were not under the influence and immediately contacted authorities. The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office concluded that Brooks died from "traumatic injuries" sustained after the alleged rape.