Stephen Milne's lawyers to decide on rape trial abandonment

[SainterK]

And why is our captain at a rape trial?

Show your support privately.

Need sponsors desperately, terrible decision IMO.

brand/face of club...

Because its a close friend and he is supporting him like you and I have the right to do for our mates.

Completely disagree.

...you and I are not captain of the club.

awful judgement, meet him after IMO

News will lead tonight with "StKilda captain shows support at Milnes rape trial"

Nothing surer.

Meanwhile we're attempting to land a new major sponsor.

Club is bigger....and all that

[SainterK]

And why is our captain at a rape trial?

Show your support privately.

Need sponsors desperately, terrible decision IMO.

brand/face of club...

double post

[SaintJohn1956]

Hope it goes OK. According to Crimes Act

CRIMES ACT 1958 - SECT 39
Indecent assault

S. 39(1) amended by No. 48/1997
s. 60(1)(Sch. 1 item 20).

(1) A person must not commit indecent assault.

Penalty: Level 5 imprisonment (10 years maximum).

[stinger]

So he will be a convicted something?????

I personally find it a bit strange he will admit to this adjusted charge. They must have been concerned about a rape conviction if they have agreed to a lesser charge. If he believed he was innocent, I thought they would fight it all the way.

Anyway I suppose if this means no jail time it will be a relief for his family, and they can finally move on to some extent. Good luck Milney.

Problem is he cant prove he was innocent. Clearly something happened that has upset the young girl even if Milne believes he did nothing wrong its basically impossible to clear his name.

up to the crown to prove his guilt actually.....milne doesn't have to prove anything...but he will be convicted by the court of public opinion anyway......also will go on the sex offenders register ...poor outcome for him really...

[SemperFidelis]

And why is our captain at a rape trial?

Show your support privately.

Need sponsors desperately, terrible decision IMO.

brand/face of club...

I think we'll agree to disagree here, K.

This is a very big step in this dreadful saga. Pleading guilty to an indictable offence is a huge deal. As you rightly said above, there are no winners here.

I'd be telling the sponsors that this whole sorry episode is at last being put behind the Club. Offering up a plea to a serious offence is a very public acceptance of responsibility for conduct falling below community standards. I doubt that the attendance of a close friend at a mention hearing in the off season is likely to scare off too many new sponsors.

Prepare yourself, as he may well give character evidence on the plea. Hopefully they can list it before the end of the year.

[The Fireman]

I'm glad Lenny and Roo are there, shows the type of loyal and supportive blokes they are and I doubt very much that any sponsors would not appreciate that.

[Harvey To Hayes]

And why is our captain at a rape trial?

Show your support privately.

Need sponsors desperately, terrible decision IMO.

brand/face of club...

I'd be a lot more concerned if one of our captain's best friends and former teammates was going through something this traumatic and he wasn't there lending his support...

The police who decided to reopen and charge Milney with this should be ashamed, as if any other result was even vaguely feasible then the charges being dropped after all that time...

[saintspremiers]

I'm glad he didn't play with us last year due this outcome possibly occurring which it has.

You do the crime, you do the time. Glad he's pleaded guilty, hoping for a small punishment

[SaintPav]

And why is our captain at a rape trial?

Show your support privately.

Need sponsors desperately, terrible decision IMO.

brand/face of club...

Because its a close friend and he is supporting him like you and I have the right to do for our mates.

Completely disagree.

...you and I are not captain of the club.

awful judgement, meet him after IMO

News will lead tonight with "StKilda captain shows support at Milnes rape trial"

Nothing surer.

Meanwhile we're attempting to land a new major sponsor.

Club is bigger....and all that

That's very christian of you.

[matrix]

[8856brother]

Good on you Roo and Lenny. Some things are more important than footy.

[SemperFidelis]

Looks like the plea is actually running today, which is good from the point of view of minimising the publicity - the media didn't know it was happening and now have to scramble. I'd expect it to finish today.

Hopefully the Judge can turn it around swiftly.

[matrix]

what a f****** mess this turned out to be
tarnished for life because a couple of chicks wanted to score with footy players.

[SaintPav]

Notwithsatnding the details of this case, without loyalty and mateship, there is no football club....or not one worth supporting anyway..

Roo has done the right thing and he is there to support his mate....I know I would want support if I was facing a potential prison sentence.

How would it feel to have your mates disown you? He'll probably have plenty of those that do.

[matrix]

so youre saying they couldnt have provided support any other way?
im with K
couldve met him outside, at the pub etc
im pretty sure milne wouldnt have thought any less of his mates and understood the situation, being the ultimate club man he was.

2c

[The Fireman]

support is support.... Would any of you guys go to court to back a mate...say for Assault charges ? I know I would.

[Moods]

I haven't got a problem with Lenny and Roo being there. Even if a mate HAS done the wrong thing that doesn't mean he's no longer a mate. Surely in a mature world even potential sponsors can understand that. Especially as this happened 10 years ago and Milne no longer plays at the club.

From what I hear I reckon it's a good outcome for Milney....

Considering the longevity of time that has passed since the alleged offence, the sordy circumstances of the whole thing, and Milnes good character, I'd be surprised if he gets any jail time

[Bunk_Moreland]

Montagna not there?

[st.byron]

The police who decided to reopen and charge Milney with this should be ashamed, as if any other result was even vaguely feasible then the charges being dropped after all that time...

Why should they be ashamed? He's pleaded guilty to a lesser but still serious crime. Do you propose that the victim should have no recognition or validation at all for whatever suffering she's experienced?

[SaintPav]

so youre saying they couldnt have provided support any other way?
im with K
couldve met him outside, at the pub etc
im pretty sure milne wouldnt have thought any less of his mates and understood the situation, being the ultimate club man he was.

2c

Well there are obviously many ways to show support.

I think you guys a overeacting and being a bit sanctimoniousness. I don't think it's such a big deal..sponsors won't leave us because of this..

Roo has a right to support his mates.

[st.byron]

what a f****** mess this turned out to be
tarnished for life because a couple of chicks wanted to score with footy players.

Ummmmm...no. I'm sure there are chicks wanting to score with AFL players every day of the week.
Milne is tarnished because of committing the crime of indecent assault. His choice. His responsibility.

[SaintPav]

Montagna not there?

No. he put the club first.

What a guy.

[st.byron]

I haven't got a problem with Lenny and Roo being there. Even if a mate HAS done the wrong thing that doesn't mean he's no longer a mate. Surely in a mature world even potential sponsors can understand that. Especially as this happened 10 years ago and Milne no longer plays at the club.

From what I hear I reckon it's a good outcome for Milney....

Considering the longevity of time that has passed since the alleged offence, the sordy circumstances of the whole thing, and Milnes good character, I'd be surprised if he gets any jail time

A very good friend of mine went to court as a victim of an indecent assault charge among others. 38 years after the event. Perpetrator had lots of character witnesses saying what a great church going, old people helping, loving husband type of guy he was. Still went to jail for 4 years. So did Rolf Harris.

[perfectionist]

Unless his lawyers have reached an understanding with the DPP, this would seem to be a big mistake. Rule 1 - never plead guilty (unless you know the penalty).

[st.byron]

Unless his lawyers have reached an understanding with the DPP, this would seem to be a big mistake. Rule 1 - never plead guilty (unless you know the penalty).

Will be to ameliorate the penalty. In the case I was referring to above, the defendant pleaded guilty. This meant the victim did not have to go through being cross examined and questioned about the incident in court, which can be very traumatic. In sentencing the judge gave him 3.5 years and said that had he not pleaded guilty, it would have been 5.5.