Shaw, Mark – Down for the Count. The Shocking Truth Behind the Mike Tyson Rape Trial

Description

Shaw, Mark ‘Down for the Count. The Shocking Truth Behind the Mike Tyson Rape Trial’ 1993 1st ed. 262 pages. VG/VG

Down for the Count: The Shocking Truth Behind the Mike Tyson Rape Trial is a 280-page legal and journalistic critique written by former criminal defense attorney and journalist Mark Shaw (with contributions by Charley Steiner). Published as a hardcover first edition in January 1993 by Sagamore Publishing, this book presents a deep-dive analysis of the high-profile February 1992 trial that resulted in the former heavyweight boxing champion’s rape conviction.

Book Summary & Key Contents:
Shaw, who covered the sensational 13-day trial firsthand for major networks including ESPN, USA Today, and CNN, scrutinizes whether the American judicial system failed to provide Tyson with a fair trial. The book functions as both a timeline of the courtroom drama and a critical deconstruction of the legal strategies used:
• The Stacked Deck Theory: Shaw questions the selection of the pro-prosecution Judge Patricia Gifford and presents a critical view of the conservative, Midwestern jury’s decision-making process.
• Defense & Prosecution Tactics: The text heavily analyzes the missteps made by Tyson’s high-priced defense attorney, Vincent Fuller, while examining the aggressive strategies utilized by prosecutors Greg Garrison and Barb Treathen.
• Suppressed Evidence: Details key elements that never made it to the trial jury, such as the potential impact of a specific local television station (Channel 8) videotape.
• Cultural Context: Offers sharp legal commentary comparing the media circus and societal undertones of the Tyson case to other defining cultural flashpoints of the era, including the William Kennedy Smith rape case, the Rodney King and Bensonhurst trials, and the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings.
Ultimately, the book argues that Tyson was “railroaded” due to a perfect storm of an incompetent defense, a biased legal environment, and a national mood hostile toward hyper-celebrity and race.

Collector & First Edition Specifications:
• Publisher: Sagamore Publishing (Champaign, IL)
• Publication Date: January 1993
• Format: Hardcover with Dust Jacket
• Page Count: 280 pages (including 12 unnumbered pages of black-and-white photo plates/illustrations)
• ISBN-10: 0915611783 / ISBN-13: 9780915611782
• Dust Jacket Art: Explicitly features a dramatic design featuring the words “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!” splashed across the cover jacket.