Witnesses say they weren't afraid of UM's Furman

ANN ARBOR (AP) -- Two female students involved in an altercation that led to assault and domestic violence charges against Michigan football player Josh Furman have testified they did not feel afraid of him during the February incident that led to his arrest. Emily Ray, who said she previously dated Furman, testified at the start of trial Monday that she and fellow student Jennifer Triplett were trying to hold Furman back in the incident at Triplett's Ann Arbor residence. Ray said they were trying to prevent him from getting at another man who was there, but that Furman was simply trying to get the two women to let go of him. Triplett testified she did not feel threatened by Furman. Furman, a safety, is facing charges of domestic violence, assault and illegal entry. He's been suspended by the Wolverines, and his trial resumes Thursday. Ray testified that Furman and another football player showed up at the residence, and when Furman entered, she initiated the physical contact with him. She said she and Triplett grabbed him by the arm and hair and Furman was trying to get them to let go. "He wasn't trying to be physical with us," Ray said. Prosecutor Patricia Reiser declined comment. Defense attorney Gerry Mason discussed the possibility of a plea to an entry without permission charge, but no deal was reached. "My take on it was, why put all these young people, who are friends, through hell?" Mason said afterward. "Patricia Reiser's a good prosecutor and good person, but she has orders to follow." Published: Wed, Apr 25, 2012