Andrew Lovett

[CureTheSane]

Unless you are either Andrew Lovett or the complainant, you have no basis to state that as fact.




I am quite familiar with the judicial system of this country, having been involved in it for a pretty fair part of my life.

I am also quite familiar with this particular case, having been involved in the trial.

I respect the decision of the jury, and understand how they could have reached it.

But my position on Lovett is absolutely clear. I will not accept him coming to my club.

You probably need to find a new country then.

Lovett is probably looking into what kind of legal action he can take against the Saints (if any) and so he should.

Football clubs with their 'holier than thou' attitudes annoy me.
The Saints play the roles of arresting offices, judge and jury all on their own, and the guy was not found guilty.

I'm with Annie & Al

[AnnieH]

Unless you are either Andrew Lovett or the complainant, you have no basis to state that as fact.

I do believe that is what he based his case on ... going by the article from the newspaper.
Unless the journo was making it all up.

The guy has been found innocent by our Court system and is free to go.

For those who want to try him again here .... suck it up. Please.

[Donners]

You probably need to find a new country then.

Lovett is probably looking into what kind of legal action he can take against the Saints (if any) and so he should.

Football clubs with their 'holier than thou' attitudes annoy me.
The Saints play the roles of arresting offices, judge and jury all on their own, and the guy was not found guilty.

I'm with Annie & Al

Perhaps you favour a country where people cannot form their own informed opinions?

You might also note that Lovett already did take action against St Kilda, and reached a settlement, long before this outcome.

For those who want to try him again here .... suck it up. Please.

I am not "trying him again". I said I respect the jury's decision. I also have my own view. And I will continue to hold it.

[ScottH]

I do believe that is what he based his case on ... going by the article from the newspaper.
Unless the journo was making it all up.

The guy has been found innocent by our Court system and is free to go.

For those who want to try him again here .... suck it up. Please.

He hasn't been found innocent. he's been found Not Guilty.

[AnnieH]

I also have my own view and I will continue to hold it.

[AnnieH]

He hasn't been found innocent. he's been found Not Guilty.

Explain the difference.

[ScottH]

Explain the difference.

Innocent means he didn't do it.
Not guilty means there was insufficient proof to find him guilty.

I'm not taking any side here, I have not read (albeit in the biased media) or heard much about the case except on the news.
I wish to believe he is innocent. And sincerely hope he is.
Just based on my experiences in the Court system. Not guilty does not always equate to innocent.

[Donners]

Explain the difference.

A jury was not convinced beyond ANY reasonable doubt that he knew a woman was not consenting.

That is a very broad stroke.

They had to be convinced not only that she was not consenting, but that he was aware of that fact beyond ANY REASONABLE DOUBT based solely on the word of someone who had a BAC of .14-.18.

Very, very hard to do - "reasonable doubt" is a pretty open term, and when someone's memory is affected by alcohol, it's near impossible to eliminate that doubt.

That's not finding it was consent. It's finding they couldn't be sure that it wasn't and/or that he wasn't aware of that.

[Lucky Knickers]

I would not support him coming to the Swans he does not behave like a professional footballer. He turned up drunk to training.
As donners says he's settled his case with St Kilda re unfair dismissal.

[swannielady]

I don't see the point of all these explanations really cause it just seems to me that any footballer bought up on charges of rape brings out hysteria from football fans. They seem to feel these poor souls are being shafted by some sneaky female whose out to make the mans life hell and ruin a football side as well. There is always a groundswell of support for these players, especially the good footy players not because they are known to the fans but because they are vital to their teams. It is really quite perverse.

[Big Al]

Agree Lovett has had discipline issues in the past and probably wouldn't be a good fit for us. However if anyone could get the best out of him it would certainly be us and at 28 you would hope that he has grown up a bit.

[Big Al]

I don't see the point of all these explanations really cause it just seems to me that any footballer bought up on charges of rape brings out hysteria from football fans. They seem to feel these poor souls are being shafted by some sneaky female whose out to make the mans life hell and ruin a football side as well. There is always a groundswell of support for these players, especially the good footy players not because they are known to the fans but because they are vital to their teams. It is really quite perverse.

What is also perverse is that these bad and terrible footy players are assumed to be guilty by some just because they are footy players. They can't even go out for a beer now because if there is an incident the public assume the players are at fault.

It's also perverse but a fact of life unfortunately that in the court system the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty but is the exact opposite in the court of public opinion.

[ScottH]

Agree Lovett has had discipline issues in the past and probably wouldn't be a good fit for us. However if anyone could get the best out of him it would certainly be us and at 28 you would hope that he has grown up a bit.

Agreel. We took Plugger, Barry, and Spida. All had issues in the past.
And not all our players have been angels in the past.

We'd get a ready made footballer for nothing in the draft. Assuming his fitness levels are still pretty good.
Worth a crack IMHO.

[Triple B]

What is also perverse is that these bad and terrible footy players are assumed to be guilty by some just because they are footy players. They can't even go out for a beer now because if there is an incident the public assume the players are at fault.

It's also perverse but a fact of life unfortunately that in the court system the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty but is the exact opposite in the court of public opinion.

/thread

[Jewels]

It's also perverse but a fact of life unfortunately that in the court system the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty but is the exact opposite in the court of public opinion.

Spot on Al!