Overview
- A five-day bench trial in Colorado concluded with Judge Romero reserving judgment on whether an approximately $11.89 million Texas default judgment against Shilo Sanders can be discharged under the bankruptcy code.
- The judge focused on an apparent missing third-angle surveillance clip from a 2015 school altercation and cited the best-evidence rule that requires producing original or best available recordings unless they truly cannot be found.
- Deion Sanders testified in a prior deposition that someone 'manipulated and gave us the video' and that it was provided 'on the down low,' a statement prosecutors and the judge noted while tracing how the footage moved.
- The legal issue is narrow: Romero must decide whether the injuries to security guard John Darjean meet the bankruptcy exception for a 'willful and malicious' injury, which would prevent discharge of the $11.89 million debt.
- The record includes medical testimony about Darjean’s injuries, inconsistent witness recollections, and at least one court health incident for Darjean, and the judge said missing footage could materially tilt a weeks‑to‑months decision that will determine who bears the financial burden.