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Former Alabama basketball player wins $9.25m in defamation case against New York Times

Source: The Guardian Sport - Published: 21 Aug 2026 15:32

Kai Spears incorrectly linked to death of young motherTimes says it had not lost libel case in more than 50 yearsAn Alabama jury has awarded $9.25m in damages after finding that the New York Times defamed a college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting.Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men’s team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report, citing a person familiar with the investigation, that said he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. The Times reported that the person had spoken “on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.” Continue reading...