Brett Stewart found not guilty of sexual assault

[Dutchy]

Admittedly Greg Bird didn't help himself by trying to blame a mate etc etc. But the media hung him out to dry after the alleged assault on his GF. Fast forward to March 09 - Breet Stewart in a sexual assault case and the media are doing everything they can to make him out as an angel.

Are you f**king serious?

 

[bartman]

have you ever been out on the p!ss with footballers....it is unbelievable some of the crap that comes there way...there's the heroes that want a go, just because the blokes a NAME! the dirty trolls, who will badger them all night just to get a notch on their belt, the pesky footy fan who will just not F-off even though they've signed autographs,posed for the photo and had a chat...it's not all glitz and glamour on the town for the boys...why a lot stay at home and play cards with the blokes at someone's house....just too risky.

Yeah, I've seen players out and about. Had a drinks next to Mick Vella one crowded new years eve. But the thing is some footballers know how to behave, and how to stay out of trouble, even when trouble has a habit of finding them.

Others - too many to name - have no clue and end up in situations where you can basically say they brought it on themselves, rather than make excuses for them. Maybe the players have unrealistic expectations of glitz and glamour and velvet ropes, and then run into trouble when they face reality?

Agree with you on the staying home and drinking at mates places though - some of these players maybe need to do that more often rather than end up at the Cross? It's not hard. I've suggested that leagues clubs put on drinks for home and away players on game nights, and then they can have drinks in safety.

Why they'd want to head out on the drink more than once or twice a week when they earn that type of money for being professional athletes is beyond me. They should leave abuse of their bodies to they're "off duty" - the month or two between their last game and the start of off-season training.

 

[AILD]

Don't be soooo ridiculous. The guy is obviously innocent. The whole thing is a set-up. Have you read about the Father?! Sheesh.

just because the dad has a sh*tty past doesnt mean this didnt happen tho. even the children of bad people can be sexually abused.

 

[Gene Krupa]

and he comes the other side of the story...how bloody shonky is the father??
None of the neighbours heard anything apparently.
If it smells like a rat..it usually is...

Apt name you have there, you wombat!

He must be innocent because the alleged victims father has been in gaol. Are you Danny Wanker by any chance? :roll:

 

[Timmah]

While it makes the entire situation less credible to some degree, the investigation is ongoing and it does not mean the situation is over by any stretch of the imagination.

People need to calm down and wait for this thing to take it's course. A LOT of people in this thread will look silly when the investigation is completed, in one way or another.

 

[willvillain]

Admittedly Greg Bird didn't help himself by trying to blame a mate etc etc. But the media hung him out to dry after the alleged assault on his GF. Fast forward to March 09 - Breet Stewart in a sexual assault case and the media are doing everything they can to make him out as an angel.

Bird obviously did get hung out to dry, but you can't seriously be suggesting that the media have painted Brett Stewart out to be an angel?

Despite having a spotless record during his NRL career, he's been treated to the same sort of borderline libelous bullsh*t from all the major news outlets that Bird (a player with a fair rap sheet) had at the time.

The media have hardly done him any favours since this story broke on Saturday.

 

[bartman]

People need to calm down and wait for this thing to take it's course. A LOT of people in this thread will look silly when the investigation is completed, in one way or another.

People are allowed to give opinions based on what they know at the time. That's what a forum's for...

And people are allowed to change their minds, when the information that is available changes. That doesn't make them look silly. No one looked silly after all the outrage expressed ijn the community about the behaviour in and after Coffs - regardless of the final legal outcome.

It just means that we can enjoy a place where there is something to read and discuss, rather than one where we're not allowed to have different opinions and express them, until waiting until any issue is totally and completely resolved, and we're "told" which one opinion we must rightly have....

 

[Gene Krupa]

While it makes the entire situation less credible to some degree, the investigation is ongoing and it does not mean the situation is over by any stretch of the imagination.

People need to calm down and wait for this thing to take it's course. A LOT of people in this thread will look silly when the investigation is completed, in one way or another.

How does it make it less credible? If an armed robbers daughter was raped, would the fact that he's done time change the fact she'd been assaulted? No, it doesn't change a thing.

I agree we should let things take it's course but the fact he was refused entry to multiple establishments and the fact he can't remember what happened doesn't really help his case any and that's where people are getting their speculation from.

 

[Aaron_sfas]

at the end of the day, i hope stewart at least learns from this what a mess alcohol can get you into. i know he's only 23, but surely thats old enough to drink responsibly....?

 

[Timmah]

How does it make it less credible? If an armed robbers daughter was raped, would the fact that he's done time change the fact she'd been assaulted? No, it doesn't change a thing.

They're still allegations at this stage, which is why as a public discussing it, it does make it quite relevant.

I agree we should let things take it's course but the fact he was refused entry to multiple establishments and the fact he can't remember what happened doesn't really help his case any and that's where people are getting their speculation from.

I just think the speculation is getting a bit off track. So many things seem to have been taken as gospel... just yeah... gettin a bit crazy IMO.

 

[Patorick]

Admittedly Greg Bird didn't help himself by trying to blame a mate etc etc. But the media hung him out to dry after the alleged assault on his GF. Fast forward to March 09 - Breet Stewart in a sexual assault case and the media are doing everything they can to make him out as an angel.

 

[no name]

notice as soon as the Beav leaves to play in England Manly lose their minds and all this starts happening. BRING HIM BACK.

I know there is a joke in there somewhere, not sure if it's appropriate atm.......

 

[Kiki]

i have to agree with whoever said that footy players have to deal with alot of idiots coming up to them when they're out. i dont necessarily think that is pertinent in this case, but it definitely happens.

from some of the behaviour ive seen from the general public its a suprise more footy players dont get in trouble.

 

[Kiki]

I know there is a joke in there somewhere, not sure if it's appropriate atm.......

hahaha yes, not appropriate.

 

[Tommax25]

If he is charged Manly should have the balls to stand him down until the trial.
Manly would be a joke if they do not.

And why did laffranchi and crocket not have to be stood down. So basically you consider the titans and warriors a joke then?

 

[bartman]

The titans didn't stand lafranchi down because it was an incident that occurred before he commenced playing for them. A bit of a loop hole and shouldn't be used as a precedent.

Can't vouch for the Crocket situation, but it's good to see the NRL leaning on the club with a fine pending for how the club handled alcohol at it's own function. Sends a bit of a message you would think?

I have no doubt he would be stood down if charged - as should any other player from now on when charges of a sexual nature are laid.

 

[Tommax25]

How does it make it less credible? If an armed robbers daughter was raped, would the fact that he's done time change the fact she'd been assaulted? No, it doesn't change a thing.

I agree we should let things take it's course but the fact he was refused entry to multiple establishments and the fact he can't remember what happened doesn't really help his case any and that's where people are getting their speculation from.

The situation is different to that. There is an allegation against someone, and a member of the family of the accuser has a history of fraud. Proves nothing at all but it is worth reporting imo, becasue as other people have said, who knows what happened but this could be a golddigging/attention scenario and the dad being involved in fraud previously does make it seem a bit more suspicious.

 

[Tommax25]

The titans didn't stand lafranchi down because it was an incident that occurred before he commenced playing for them. A bit of a loop hole and shouldn't be used as a precedent.

Can't vouch for the Crocket situation, but it's good to see the NRL leaning on the club with a fine pending for how the club handled alcohol at it's own function. Sends a bit of a message you would think?

I have no doubt he would be stood down if charged - as should any other player from now on when charges of a sexual nature are laid.

Who would do the standing down? If its the nrl then massive double standards re laffranchi and crocket, and it would be comepletely unfair to stewart. He probably would be stood down by manly but that should be their perogative imo, based on the nrl not stepping in in the other cases. Also, how is it a loophole that as it happened while he was at the tigers the titans are immune from scutiny? That doesnt matter, it happened and you are saying the titans didnt have a responsibility to stand him down but manly do? That is crazy double standards imo.

Again, the nrl would be wrong to start stepping in with suspensions and standing downs now, AFTER an incident has occured ignoring past precedent. If they want to put a blanket 'player charged=player stood down' from now on (ie: after stewart) then fine. The nrl has the right to fine manly for the way they conduct their functions ect but imo not the right to stand stewart down.

 

[$$Poor Boy Blues$$]

The blame here lies with Brett. Irrespective of whether he is guilty or not....he is the man, he is the one who should always be in charge of his emotions and his actions, thinking clearly and being courteous to women and gentleman-like. He is the one who should have been the protector and the leader. He should have known better. And to put this girl off so much that she would cast sexual assault allegations at him, he has really let her down and even more importantly, he has let himself down. He should have maned-up and been a man about it all...and thats not to tango with her at all. By tango, i mean whatever business he had with her, it should never have come to this. Girls dont just wildly throw about sexual assault allegations.

He let her down, himself down, and ultimately dragged the nrl through the mud. He simply should have been more of a man, and should have known better.

BUt the little known fact in all of this is that men today, especially sheltered young men who play in sport, are utterly defenceless to thier own tendancies in such matters.

More education is needed.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25163610-5001021,00.html

I was too drunk to remember anything, says Brett Stewart
Article from: The Daily Telegraph

By Josh Massoud and Paul Kent

March 10, 2009 12:00am

MANLY fullback Brett Stewart was so drunk he cannot remember allegedly attacking a teenage girl but witnesses claim the footballer had to be pulled off the 17-year-old.

Police witnesses told The Daily Telegraph Stewart exited the taxi that had ferried him home from Manly's season launch and crash tackled the girl. Shocked onlookers said they had to pull him off the girl, who had been smoking a cigarette outside her home.

The Daily Telegraph has learned the diabetic Manly star was so drunk he could not immediately remember what took place.

Sources close to the inquiry revealed Stewart had consumed so much alcohol beforehand that he was unable to recall details of the alleged incident when taken into custody by police about 8pm last Friday.

When asked to confirm the allegations, his lawyer Geoff Bellew replied: "I am unable to comment about that because it's a matter of client privilege." But Mr Bellew denied suggestions Stewart had declined to be interviewed because he was too drunk. "That's absolutely, totally wrong," he said.

Stewart has since denied allegations that he sexually assaulted the girl at a North Manly apartment complex.

As the investigation continues, it emerged the Sea Eagles are also considering defying the NRL's wishes and a groundswell of public opinion by playing Stewart - even if he is charged by police.

Chief executive Grant Mayer refused to comment on his future yesterday. "There's no doubt that if things progress throughout the week the board will meet and discuss it. At this stage it is an allegation," he said.


Privately, the club has already sought legal opinion and was told the NRL has no legal standing to ban Stewart from playing.

If charged, it is understood the Sea Eagles are prepared to continue playing him until he faces court, as other players have done in the past.

The NRL's stance on whether players should be stood down depends heavily on the players response to the accusations - in this instance, Stewart has denied the accusation.

NRL boss David Gallop said: "If it was a clearly established fact that a player had committed a sexual assault he would not be playing."

Stewart declined to be interviewed after being arrested and was released without charge.

The 24-year-old had spent the entire afternoon at Manly's 2009 season launch, where he was spotted drinking heavily with team mates.

He returned to the complex - where he also lives - in a taxi about 7.30pm. The girl and her father, both of whom cannot be named for legal reasons, have said she was smoking a cigarette at the front of the complex when Stewart arrived.

Stewart was later arrested and taken to Dee Why police station. He made his first appearance since Friday at Manly training yesterday.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler will today name him at fullback for Saturday clash against the Bulldogs.

His on-going selection comes as the Balmain Tigers stood down five NSW Cup players who allegedly raped a 23-year-old woman on the Sunshine Coast after a trial match two Saturday ago. The Daily Telegraph understands all five players have been put on ice until the outcome of the investigation.