Talk:Richard Rossi/sandbox

Attack
totally-disputed-section In 1994, Rossi's wife allegedly identified him as an attacker who beat her nearly to death. Ann Rodgers Melnick, a Pittsburgh Press reporter, started a story that Rossi claimed his wife's assailant was not him but a demonic doppelgänger and that the incident was a Satanic counterattack prompted by Rossi's work as an exorcist. Other sources, however, indicated that Rossi was motivated to kill his wife because he was having an extramarital affair. This was later disproven at his trial.

Sherrie Rossi, reportedly pressured by Rossi's family and congregation, later recanted her original story, testifying in court that the assailant had not been her husband. Richard Rossi was charged with attempted murder, but his trial ended in a hung jury because three jurors believed the evidence constituted reasonable doubt. Though maintaining his innocence, Rossi was allowed to plead no contest to second-degree aggravated assault and served 96 days in jail. In 1996, Sherrie Rossi self-published Assault of Justice: The Richard Rossi Mystery, defending her husband from various tabloid stories and proclaiming his innocence. A press release alleged Rossi was innocent based on physical evidence and the testimony of eyewitnesses.

According to Rossi, he left the evangelical subculture, and released the alternative rock album Full Circle. Again according to Rossi, the album was criticized by evangelical Christians because it was confessional about his depression and struggles, with metaphors rather than explicit religious content. Rossi also alleges he was rejected by some of his evangelical former fans because he performed the new material in bars, nightclubs, and mainstream concert venues, often with rock and jazz musicians. Rossi commented, "Hollywood is more forgiving than the church." 

Assault of Justice
According to Sherrie Rossi's own account, allegations she implicated her husband were unfounded. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.233.48.100 (talk) 20:02, 7 April 2010 (UTC)