Key Takeaways
- Stefon Diggs, a four‑time Pro Bowl wide receiver, is on trial in Norfolk County for a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault‑and‑battery charge linked to an alleged December 2 incident with his private chef, Mila Adams.
- Prosecutors claim Adams testified that Diggs entered her bedroom, slapped her, placed her in a head‑lock that impeded breathing, and threw her onto the bed.
- Diggs’ defense maintains the attack never occurred, arguing there were no witnesses, no medical records, photos, or video, and suggesting the allegations stem from a financial dispute and Adams’ desire for increased compensation after filing a police report.
- The defense emphasized that Diggs should be judged like any other citizen, urging jurors to set aside biases related to his fame, wealth, or status as an NFL player.
- Diggs signed a three‑year, $69 million contract with the New England Patriots in 2023, recorded a 1,000‑yard receiving season, and was released by the team in March 2024; he remains unsigned.
- The outcome of the trial could affect Diggs’ future NFL prospects, his reputation, and potentially lead to civil litigation regardless of the criminal verdict.
The trial opened Monday in Dedham, Massachusetts, with Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Drew Virtue delivering the prosecution’s opening statement. Virtue told the jury that the alleged victim, Mila Adams, Diggs’ private chef, would describe how the football star entered her bedroom on the night of December 2, struck her across the face, and then placed her in a head‑lock using the crook of his elbow around her neck. According to Virtue, the hold made it difficult for Adams to breathe before Diggs allegedly threw her onto the bed. He framed the jury’s task as determining what truly transpired that evening, emphasizing that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
In response, Diggs’ attorney, Andrew Kettlewell, forcefully denied that any assault took place. Kettlewell asserted that no one present in the Diggs household that night observed or heard anything unusual, and that there is a complete lack of corroborating evidence—no medical records, photographs, or video footage substantiating Adams’ claims. He characterized the prosecution’s narrative as a fabrication, insisting “the assault that the Commonwealth described in their opening statement never happened. It did not happen.” Instead, Kettlewell painted the incident as the culmination of a growing disagreement over money between Adams and members of Diggs’ entourage. He noted that Adams learned she would not be included in a week‑long trip Diggs was planning to Miami, and that her demands for additional compensation rose after she filed a police report. The defense urged jurors to disregard any preconceptions about Diggs’ wealth, celebrity status, or profession, reminding them that the law treats all defendants equally regardless of fame or financial standing.
Adams did take the stand briefly before the court recessed for lunch. According to the police report entered into evidence, she told officers that she and Diggs had previously argued about unpaid wages for her culinary services. During the alleged encounter, she said Diggs “smacked her across the face” and then “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck,” leaving her feeling short of breath and fearing she might lose consciousness. Adams reported difficulty breathing and a sensation that she could have blacked out, details that the prosecution intends to highlight as evidence of strangulation.
Beyond the courtroom drama, the case touches on Diggs’ recent professional trajectory. After a productive 2023 season with the New England Patriots—where he amassed 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, helping secure an AFC East title—Diggs signed a three‑year, $69 million contract with the team. His 1,000‑yard season marked the seventh of his career and was viewed as a successful rebound following a season‑ending knee injury that had limited his time with the Houston Texans in 2024. Despite his on‑field contributions, the Patriots released Diggs in March 2024, and he has yet to sign with another NFL franchise. The lingering uncertainty surrounding his future employment adds another layer of significance to the trial’s outcome.
The proceedings are expected to continue with additional witness testimony, cross‑examinations, and possibly expert analysis of the alleged strangulation technique. Both sides have framed the case as a battle over credibility: the prosecution relying on Adams’ account and the lack of any contradictory physical evidence, while the defense stresses the absence of independent corroboration and suggests a motive rooted in financial grievance. Jurors will ultimately decide whether the state has met its burden of proving that Diggs committed felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery, a verdict that could carry criminal penalties, affect his civil liabilities, and influence any future opportunities in professional football.