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Post by Dale on Jan 7, 2015 15:59:01 GMT 1
It's now looking highly likely that Ched Evans will be resuming his football league career with Oldham Athletic. Expect official confirmation from the club tomorrow. Oldham Athletic used to pride itself on being a family centred club, NOT ANYMORE. I know of one lifelong supporter who will no longer follow them home and away as a result, sad sad day. It won't be the first time Oldham have made a 'controversial' signing. They were the first club to sign Lee Hughes after his release from prison.
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Jan 7, 2015 16:00:18 GMT 1
Having read a couple of legal bloggers views on this, the success of any appeal would seem to rest, as a couple of others have said, on whether the judge was correct to direct the jury to make their decision in that way. The initial leave to appeal said that direction was correct, so I guess Evans legal team have to use other case law to show the judges direction was wrong Exactly. It is the law itself that is on trial here. The girl says "yes" but you "should have known" she had too much to drink to actually consent.
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Post by venceremos on Jan 7, 2015 16:41:28 GMT 1
So the "footballer" Ched Evans is accused of rape (the police actually wrote that) and people on this thread refer to his girlfriend's "millionaire father" running the website / giving him work. In both cases the use of that description appears to be a deliberate slant on the case. People wouldn't be so angry if a milkman was protesting his innocence and his nurse girlfriend's father who was a falklands veteran was trying to clear his name. True, but that's also the case for anyone in the public eye who commits a crime. And he was found guilty of rape, not just accused of it. I think Oldham might end up regretting this decision and becoming a tainted club.
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Jan 7, 2015 16:50:08 GMT 1
I was quoting the police - in their notebook of the crime it described him as "the footballer Ched Evans" which makes it sound like they went after him because he was a footballer / high profile.
If it was two students would they have charged him?
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Post by champagneprince on Jan 7, 2015 17:29:26 GMT 1
I was quoting the police - in their notebook of the crime it described him as "the footballer Ched Evans" which makes it sound like they went after him because he was a footballer / high profile. If it was two students would they have charged him?
Naming a person's profession once they have been found guilty is normal practice I think?
The girl made a complaint that she thought her drink had been spiked by the two (not rape). Under questioning they said they had sex with the girl. McDonald was let off because she was willing. Evans was charged because he was a third party that she didn't know and she was too drunk to give consent.
The Police felt that there was enough evidence to charge him. 12 members of the jury unanimously agreed with them.
Two students would certainly have been investigated given the same scenario
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/police-investigate-30-rape-cases-8132028
He had sex with an extremely drunk girl who didn't give consent for intercourse, after only meeting her for 10 minutes or so, being videoed by his mates and being prompted by McDonald that 'he had a girl'. Whether a student or a footballer that's enough to be questioned and charged. and following that you are left to the decision of the jury.
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Post by mattmw on Jan 7, 2015 17:33:44 GMT 1
Didn't the footballer quote come from Evans himself in his statement which said something along the lines of "I could go out and get any woman I like I'm a well known footballer" the slant the Police went after him as a footballer only ever crops up on the Evans website. No mention of it crops up in case put in court by his defence team?
That's become a problem with this case that a lot of the evidence the Evans defence team are now putting in the public domain has never been tested in court. It's hard to tell if this is because it wasn't considered relevant or appropriate by the judge; or they simply didn't use it at the time. Again I guess that's part of the appeal process
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Post by champagneprince on Jan 7, 2015 18:04:32 GMT 1
Breaking News
Oldham have said no to Ched Evans, but he's taking it as a yes
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 19:20:43 GMT 1
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Post by SouthStandShrew on Jan 7, 2015 21:07:29 GMT 1
Has anyone watch the CCTV video from the hotel that night?
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Jan 7, 2015 21:49:00 GMT 1
I was quoting the police - in their notebook of the crime it described him as "the footballer Ched Evans" which makes it sound like they went after him because he was a footballer / high profile. I think there is some truth to that.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 22:05:07 GMT 1
Signing for Oldham on a 2.5 year deal according to the local paper.
Ultimately the decision to sign Evans has been a hard-nosed business one, acquiring the footballer not the person. If the contract offer is to be believed and Evans can reproduce his form of old then Oldham will have a substantial saleable asset on their hands.
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Post by Bordershrew on Jan 7, 2015 22:42:50 GMT 1
He claims she was drunk when they had sex and that's why he thinks he's innocent. b******s! If you get mugged for your wallet whilst your drunk does it mean it's any less if a crime. What message does it send to footy fans of he can play again and earn the wages he got before, same applies to Lee Hughes tbh. Never thought he should be allowed to play footy again & glad we never signed him. How do you feel about the Bobby Grant signing then? Wasn't he convicted of affray or something in the Steven Gerrard brawl.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 22:48:44 GMT 1
He claims she was drunk when they had sex and that's why he thinks he's innocent. b******s! If you get mugged for your wallet whilst your drunk does it mean it's any less if a crime. What message does it send to footy fans of he can play again and earn the wages he got before, same applies to Lee Hughes tbh. Never thought he should be allowed to play footy again & glad we never signed him. How do you feel about the Bobby Grant signing then? Wasn't he convicted of affray or something in the Steven Gerrard brawl. With all due respect smacking someone in a bar brawl is hardly in the same league as rape and killing some in a hit & run! What sticks in my claw is Ched refusing to distance himself from a smear campaign against the young lady in question and the "She was probably asking for it" type remarks made by some people (not on this board).
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Post by Bordershrew on Jan 7, 2015 22:57:37 GMT 1
Not at all, but can you be selective of what type of criminal we employ in football? Bobby also got a suspended prison sentence so I'm guessing it must've been quite a punch.
For the record I think all these players getting there heads down and getting back playing is the only way forward.
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Post by Southern Fried Afro on Jan 8, 2015 0:55:34 GMT 1
Is it wishful thinking to say that the clubs stance would have been the same if all of this drama was happening 12 months ago?
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Post by ssshrew on Jan 8, 2015 11:10:43 GMT 1
Is it wishful thinking to say that the clubs stance would have been the same if all of this drama was happening 12 months ago? It may be but it would be good to think that the stance would be the same.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 11:47:05 GMT 1
Is it wishful thinking to say that the clubs stance would have been the same if all of this drama was happening 12 months ago? Aside from this for a minute - Think we can all agree that the clubs PR has come on leaps and bounds since the summer.
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Post by kuffdam72 on Jan 8, 2015 12:34:22 GMT 1
Oldham deal off .
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Post by Dancin on Jan 8, 2015 14:42:20 GMT 1
So this is what it's come to?"Oldham Athletic have decided against signing convicted rapist Ched Evans following threats to the club's "staff and their families". A club director told BBC sports editor Dan Roan that a staff member was informed a named relative would be raped if the deal went ahead." I wouldn't want him playing for town but what corner will this saga turn next?
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Post by Dancin on Jan 8, 2015 14:44:02 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 14:59:20 GMT 1
He could have saved a LOT of backlash by coming out with a statement like this upon release.
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Post by ssshrew on Jan 8, 2015 16:07:52 GMT 1
Indeed. It really is a bit late now to suddenly realise the consequences of actions and not actually admitting you regret them. Probably would have been better all round if he had waited until the result of the review before trying to find a club. After all the girl friend's father is hardly short of a bob or two to help him out.
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Post by jonbond on Jan 8, 2015 16:16:29 GMT 1
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Post by Bob Rickerton on Jan 8, 2015 16:41:24 GMT 1
So this is what it's come to?"Oldham Athletic have decided against signing convicted rapist Ched Evans following threats to the club's "staff and their families". A club director told BBC sports editor Dan Roan that a staff member was informed a named relative would be raped if the deal went ahead." I wouldn't want him playing for town but what corner will this saga turn next? Worth mentioning that Manchester Police have stated that they’re not aware of any direct threats made against Oldham’s directors or families, beyond “low level abuse on Twitter.” Starting to look like they bottled signing him because of sponsors dropping out, and then heavily exaggerated the extent of the threats in order to change the focus of the story and garner sympathy. Also worth mentioning that Evans’ apology is a bit of a non-apology really. Apologising for “the effects of the night” rather than the behaviour itself, and apologising for those effects on many people “ not least the woman concerned” doesn’t go nearly far enough. Would he have been so “sorry” if the deal with Oldham hadn’t collapsed? Absolute scumbag, delighted to hear that the move’s fallen through.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 18:04:54 GMT 1
This whole affair is turning into mob rule........
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 18:15:31 GMT 1
The problem with that Liddle article is that Evans is out on licence and could very well end up back inside. In that sense he hasn't really served his sentence has he?
The apology should have come upon him coming out on licence at the very latest. He then should have gone about the review quietly and without heat bloody awful website.
If he had maybe he would have had more sympathy, who knows.
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Post by mattmw on Jan 8, 2015 18:57:22 GMT 1
This whole affair is turning into mob rule........ Does seem a continuation of a wider trend in Britain where opinions are becoming more important than facts and legal rulings
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Post by sussexshrew on Jan 8, 2015 18:58:22 GMT 1
As Liddle points out, he is appealing the conviction, so he will surely have been advised by his lawyers not to issue an apology for a crime that they are contesting, as that would seriously prejudice their case.
The whole affair has been an unedifying spectacle... from the descriptions of shallow, drunk, predatory sexual encounters that surrounds young footballers and their groupies... to the rearing of the ugly head of mob rule and justice fueled by simplistic, emotional blackmail by extreme feminist journalists.. to the cowardice of politicians, none of whom have the courage to say there may be another side to the argument, even though many may think that. After all it has divided public opinion, so do we really believe that opinion isn't divided amongst MPs.
RL does make a good point: surely prison is meant to rehabilitate, and so for Evans to regain meaningful employment in a job he is good at, should be an aim. But apparently for every body else... but not Evans. And for all the vilification of him, I would imagine that he is a young man, thoroughly chastened by his involvement in the incident, and would not place himself in that situation again.
Yes rape is abhorrent... but is the ugly sex in an alcohol soaked hotel bedroom, with bad judgement but no violence, worse than threats, while cold sober, to rape a family member of one of Oldham's staff?
It makes you despair...and then just as you try to find a chink of light about the human race... there's Paris!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 19:10:33 GMT 1
Yes rape is abhorrent... but is the ugly sex in an alcohol soaked hotel bedroom, with bad judgement but no violence, worse than threats, while cold sober, to rape a family member of one of Oldham's staff? WTF?
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Post by mattmw on Jan 8, 2015 19:11:13 GMT 1
That article would be written by the same Rob Liddle who walked out on his wife during his honeymoon to take up with a 22 year old woman he later assaulted? And also the same man who has been convicted of contempt of court for reporting details of the Stephen Lawrence case? A fine voice on morals and the law
The appeal issue is also a little misleading as its not actually an appeal Evans lawyers have asked for, it's a review of the legality of the case. Not the facts of the case, which have already been turned down through a leave to appeal court ruling
Since that Commission was set up they have reviewed 18,000 cases and only referred 600 back to the courts, of which only about 500 have seen the decision of the court reversed. So the chance of any change in his conviction is relatively low
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