Steven Gerrard

[dirtydog]

Honestly he's having a laugh pleading not guilty isn't he? Every one of his fellow defendants pleaded guilty but he alone says it was self defence, on the grounds that he believed he would be attacked - as if one man would attack him and his six mates. Surely unless the jury is made up of devout Liverpool fans he will be found guilty.

I gather he has previous convictions so perhaps that is why he was advised not to plead guilty? It seems odd to me in any case, it is so open and shut as far as I can see.

[NokkonWud]

It's Steven Gerrard. He'll got off with it.

[Fayshun]

It's Steven Gerrard. He'll be able to afford ****e hot legal team and get off with it.
Fixed.

[dirtydog]

Indeed you have to wonder if the result would be the same if Joe Scouser got charged with affray and there was CCTV showing him punching the victim several times. Although maybe my cynicism is misplaced and he'll be jailed... (yeah right)

[Rich_L]

Witness Anton Ferdinand case to see what happens

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_ham/article2908671.ece

[Fayshun]

Witness Anton Ferdinand case to see what happens

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_ham/article2908671.ece


404?

[LeperousDust]

404?
Nope:
Anton Ferdinand, the West Ham United defender, has been cleared of assaulting a man outside a nightclub.

The former England Under-21 player admitted punching Emile Walker but told Snaresbrook Crown Court it was in self-defence, as he feared he was about to be mugged.

The incident took place outside the Faces nightclub in Ilford, east London, on October 2 last year.

Ferdinand, 22, denied a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of affray, but admitted striking the first blow after Mr Walker, 22, "eyeballed" his £64,000 watch then threatened a friend.

But the jury was told no sooner had he been dragged away than up to 10 other men punched the "would-be robber" to the ground and kicked him repeatedly.

The jury trying the player, from Mottingham, south-east London, took just 90 minutes to accept he was acting in self-defence.

They unanimously cleared him of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, and alternative common assault and public order offences

Edward Dawkins, of Henry Adlington Close, Beckton, east London, who was also on trial, was similarly cleared of all the allegations.

[Fayshun]

Well I got a 404 :(

[Desmo]

Gerrard should be treated like any other member of the public whilst he's in court. Whether that means a custodial sentence or just a fine and community service I don't know. However I'd like to see his club treat him a little more harshly...but that's never going to happen.

[Briggykins]

I'd like to see the FA take some action if the club won't (assuming he's found guilty, which I agree he probably won't be). Players need to know they can't do this kind of thing.

[dirtydog]

He's been found not guilty...

[Briggykins]

Nurts. I vote for a re-trial in Manchester.

[Zirax]

Self defence guv honest ....

The victim lost a tooth and suffered cuts to his face in the ensuing violence.

Rubbish, he gave the guy a pasting and his mates ensured it was done properly. Shame he doesn't have a pair in court and hides like a pansy behind his legal team. That Ferdinand one above sounds just as bad.

[Matblack]

Oh lovely, another wonderful example for young people today, I'll put this in the Pete Docherty file.

"Normally young man you'd go to prison for this but as you're famous heres a lollypop and a pat on the head, now off you go and try to be a good boy"

MB

[AboveTheSalt]

Was anyone here actually in court as the BBC alleges Judge Henry Globe was?

In releasing Steven Gerrard, Judge Henry Globe said:
The verdict is a credible verdict on the full facts of this case, and you walk away from this court with your reputation intact.

You did not start the violence, it was started by the violent elbowing of Marcus McGee in the face by one of your friends John Doran.

At all times you insisted that you only ever acted in what you believed was reasonable self-defence to what you understandably, albeit you accept mistakenly, believed was an attempted attack upon you by Marcus McGee.

What at first sight to the casual observer may seem to have been a clear-cut case against you of unlawful violence, has been nowhere near as clear-cut upon careful analysis of the evidence.As to Gerrard's drunk driving conviction, that was nearly ten years ago . . . quite a while that DD ;)

[LeperousDust]

To be fair on him ever so slightly, if anything is wrong here surely its the justice system. If anyone here ended up in court for some reason or another and had enough money to help them out i'm almost certain they would. I'm not saying whether he was guilty or not because we don't really know as ATS mentioned. We have to take the verdict as given we can't rule our own decisions, otherwise that would undermine the very pinnings of the criminal system.

[Fayshun]

Oh lovely, another wonderful example for young people today, I'll put this in the Pete Docherty file.

"Normally young man you'd go to prison for this but as you're famous heres a lollypop and a pat on the head, now off you go and try to be a good boy"

MB

This.

Sadly.

:(

[Mark]

Hands up anyone who expected any other outcome...

/thread

[Fayshun]

o/

(I'm stood on my head.)

[dirtydog]

As to Gerrard's drunk driving conviction, that was nearly ten years ago . . . quite a while that DD ;)

Doesn't matter, he can never again be said to be of previous good character, in court parlance, and thus it can't count in mitigation.