It is a genuine relief to see an innocent man escape punishment, so a particularly great sigh of relief at the jury's verdict on Liverpool captain and all-round-hero Stephen Gerrard. There can hardly be a man in the country more innocent that Gerrard. As this report tells us:
The footballer had been drinking Budweiser and a sweet liqueur-based shot called a Jammy Donut. In police interviews, he estimated his level of drunkenness as seven out of 10; one being "sober as a judge" and 10 being "legless".
However, at around 2am, the mood soured when Gerrard walked up to the bar and asked McGee, a customer who had been asked to take charge of the music, for a card to control the CD player. McGee refused.
Six minutes later, Gerrard approached McGee, who was still at the bar. Gerrard's friend John Doran landed the first blow, jabbing his elbow into McGee's face. As McGee reeled backwards, Gerrard thought he was about to be attacked and reacted with punches.
Ian Smith, another member of Gerrard's party, joined in. Doran and Smith then kicked McGee.
And how good to know that his innocence has been so stoutly defended by the man prosecuting him:
During the trial, the prosecutor, David Turner QC, paid homage to Gerrard's skill, describing him as a world-class footballer and "a star". He added: "Wherever you go in Liverpool, and indeed the world, there are little boys proudly wearing that red Liverpool shirt with No 8 and the name Gerrard on the back of it."
And as for the judge, good egg that he is,
"The verdict is a credible verdict on the full facts of this case, and you walk away from this court with your reputation intact."
Intact indeed. Absolutely intacta. Seven (7) men attack one (1) man and not one of the seven is hurt. The one man is hurt. Six of the seven are guilty, all except the one who hit him three (3) times. He is innocent because he was acting in self-defence in case the one man, who had already been hit and 'reeled backwards', hit him. Quite understandable. People who reel backwards after being hit are bound to hit you. Could this have been in Liverpool Crown Court? It could. So that's all settled then. Positively cuddly.
6 comments:
There are times when I'm ashamed to be an Englishman, George. This is the type of thing that only happens in one of those less civilised foreign counties. You know the ones; those whom we often point an accusing finger at their justice system and cry "FOUL!" A pox on all those involved in this travesty of justice.
I don't honestly think Gerrard could have been convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court unless the entire jury was composed of Everton supporters. That's just a fact of life and blindingly obvious from the start. However had it been the TRAITOR Rooney, that might have been a different matter
I left the Rooney implication unsaid, Linda, but thank you for disimplying it.
And the sheer blatancy of it does take my breath away. Liverpool's own sharia court.
Yes, well Liverpool isn't in England, you know. It doesn't exactly fall under English law. I'm just stating facts.
Plus if Gerrard had been found guilty and sentenced to do time lasting into the season, the jury would have had to go into some sort of witness protection programme for their own safety. From their own relatives to start, let alone hired hit men.
Whoah, Linda! I can tell from the inside knowledge that these hit men's reach might extend to Norfolk.
Well spotted, George. I still have my contacts.
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