Four Broncos cleared of sex assault allegations

[DangerMouse_007]

because i've seen the way they report on League

Of course.

 

[El Diablo]

did someone just fart?

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/new...broncos-grilled/2008/09/15/1221330748301.html

Spit claims surface as Broncos grilled

Brad Walter and Phil Lutton | September 16, 2008

BRONCOS players were accused of being abusive and spitting at other patrons after an all-day drinking session that resulted in three members of the NRL club being questioned by police over sexual assault allegations.

The trio were interviewed by Brisbane police yesterday afternoon after a woman made a formal complaint that she had been sexually assaulted in the toilet of a Fortitude Valley nightclub on Saturday night.

As bookmakers across the country froze NRL grand final betting and shut down all betting on Brisbane's clash with Melbourne on Saturday night, the players and their teammates were told not to discuss the incident - even among themselves - as they prepare for the match. Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said the club was co-operating fully with police.

However, as the Broncos attempted to close ranks in a bid to prevent further damaging headlines, new allegations emerged last night about the behaviour of their players on Saturday night while they were out celebrating the previous night's bruising defeat of the Sydney Roosters.

It is understood the Brisbane players were told they could not go out in Sydney after the opening finals match but, as a trade-off, were given the weekend off from training, and a large contingent of players began drinking early on Saturday afternoon after their return home.

By 9pm, some of them were the subject of a sexual assault complaint. Two others are alleged to have abused and spat at fellow revellers who objected to them pushing their way to the front of a taxi queue outside a popular Brisbane pub just before midnight.

The allegations were made in an email to Fairfax Media's Brisbane Times by a woman who claimed to be in the taxi queue when a group of Broncos players turned up at the Normanby Hotel about 11.30pm. "Approximately 20 minutes later, two [of the] players left the venue and walked straight to the front of the taxi queue, where we had been waiting at this point for over 40 minutes," she wrote in the email, which named the players involved.

"Despite a number of very loud and vocal protests to the security staff and the players about the inequity of queue-jumping and the fact that they should go to the end of the line and wait like everyone else, the players were allowed to stay there. They were joined by two other players after about five minutes and got in the next taxi. These players abused and spat on patrons who had been at the Normanby all evening."

The woman also said one of the players "could barely stand".

The Herald yesterday heard of a similar incident at the taxi rank outside the Normanby.

Cullen confirmed the club's players were co-operating fully with the police and had presented themselves for interview yesterday. "I've spoken to NRL CEO David Gallop and have assured him that we will keep him abreast of things at all times," Cullen said in a statement.

He said the Broncos had conducted their own internal investigations as soon as they were made aware of the allegations.

"While the club has not been contacted by the police about this matter, the main focus of the internal investigation team is to co-operate fully with the Queensland Police and collectively ensure all the relevant facts are recorded," he said.

Cullen said he would not be making any general statements until he was sure of his facts.

"At this point in time, there are conflicting stories, some misrepresentation of the facts in the media, and generally wide and varied views in the public arena," he said. "I can understand that, but I will not engage in speculation, only in the facts."

The alleged sexual assault is alleged to have taken place in the male toilets of the Alhambra Lounge. Police set up a crime scene at the club on Saturday night and seized footage from security cameras. A sexual assault examination was also conducted on the woman on Saturday evening, according to The Australian.

A 24-year-old woman lodged a formal complaint with police, who confirmed they had begun interviewing "three men" in relation to the allegation.

with AAP

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,24351636-14823,00.html

Star Broncos at the centre of police investigation

| September 16, 2008 12:00am

THREE high-profile Brisbane Broncos players are at the centre of a police investigation into an alleged sex scandal that has thrown the NRL finals series into chaos.

Broncos and Queensland State of Origin stars Karmichael Hunt, Darius Boyd and Sam Thaiday were allegedly named by a 24-year-old woman in a sexual assault complaint made to police on Saturday night.

The three were allegedly engaged in sexual acts with the woman in the toilet of a Brisbane nightclub and she complained to police after one of the players allegedly began filming with a mobile phone.

The revelations sent shockwaves through the NRL yesterday, with betting on the finals series suspended while police sifted through the allegations.

The sordid antics allegedly occurred in the toilet of the Alhambra Lounge nightclub in Fortitude Valley after Broncos players embarked on a drinking session to celebrate their victory over the Sydney Roosters the previous night.

Sources told The Daily Telegraph the three engaged in oral sex with a woman in the men's toilets of the Alhambra Lounge after a day of drinking at the Story Bridge Hotel. Two of the players are then alleged to have had sexual intercourse with the woman while the third recorded the acts on a mobile phone camera.

Police said they received a complaint from the woman on Saturday night which was followed up on Sunday with a written statement from the woman alleging she had been raped.

Detective acting Superintendent Tony Duncan said police were "trying to piece together the whole circumstances" surrounding the incident.

Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen confirmed three of his players had been interviewed by police yesterday.

"As soon as the Broncos were made aware of the allegations, an internal investigation team was formed," he said.

The NRL had been on track for a bumper second finals weekend, kicking off with the Broncos' showdown with title favourites Melbourne on Saturday night.

Police are understood to be angry that details of the investigation were leaked.

 

[Lungfish]

Storm clouds on Broncos' horizon

LEADING in to the finals series Darren Lockyer, the grand champion of the Broncos, put it to his team that they impose an alcohol ban.
That they declined was answered Saturday night when Karmichael Hunt, Darius Boyd and Sam Thaiday were allegedly involved in an incident that opened a police investigation.
The incident raises a whole range of repercussions, some of which will be discussed on pages more suitable than the sports brief.
According to police reports, on Saturday night three Broncos players agreed to go into a toilet cubicle at the Alhambra Lounge, in Fortitude Valley, with a woman to receive oral sex. The woman then agreed to engage in full sex with two players.
During this, the third player pulled out his mobile phone and began filming. It is believed this is what upset the woman, who believed it had now gone beyond consensual.
Urged by her friend, she later filed a police complaint. Yesterday, as the investigation continued, the Broncos had a field session at their Red Hill bunker while, inside the football club, chief executive Bruno Cullen was waiting to be contacted by police.
Cullen released a statement late yesterday: "As soon as the Broncos were made aware of the allegations, an internal investigation team was formed,'' it said in part. "While the club has not been contacted by the police about this matter, the main focus of the internal investigation team is to co-operate fully with the Queensland Police and collectively ensure all the relevant facts are recorded.''
Without intending to trivialise the importance of the accusation or the investigation, there is another truth. One more relevant to this section.
The Broncos still have a game to play this weekend, one that is more than somewhat important. It could not have come at a worse time. It is a sudden-death qualifying final against premiership heavyweights Melbourne. It is their season on the line.
It is the final Brisbane campaign of six-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett. After yesterday's field session the Broncos did weights and had ice baths and will have today off.
The Broncos, led by Lockyer, are so far holding it together. In past years external scandals would often unravel teams.
The external pressures of a public humiliation combined with the pressure of finding winning football often proved too much.
But this is the third major scandal to envelop a NRL team this season and, if the two previous examples are anything to go by, clubs are learning.
The first came when Canberra sacked halfback Todd Carney for repeated alcohol infringements just as the Raiders began threatening for the playoffs.
At the time of Carney's sacking, Raiders coach Neil Henry credited his team's seamless transition to the club's quick and decisive action. It failed to let it fester.
The second came last month when Cronulla lock Greg Bird was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm after allegedly glassing his girlfriend.
Sharks coach Ricky Stuart later promised to "unite the players like you have never seen before'', and the Sharks have responded accordingly.
This is the flipside, the sporting side, of unsavoury incidents. If handled correctly, outside disruptions can galvanise a team, sharpen the focus.
Guilt, or the lack of it, is yet to be determined in the Broncos case, but once again it is not nearly so simple.
While the easy assumption is the Broncos are already circling the wagons, galvanising, the club is in a state of confusion. The police investigation is too early to even begin planning solutions, and so the club waits.
And each day the Storm gets closer.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24351269-5006066,00.html

 

[bartman]

Well there we go, named by News Ltd. And with some juicy details included to boot.

The taxi queue story in Fairfax tends to illustrate quite nicely to me the attitude some of our elite well paid professionals have in terms of putting themselves on a pedestal. People will still defend players until their blue in the face claiming it's a fish bowl etc, but you still have to act like a merkin to be reported as acting like a merkin.

Obviously attitudes around women and consent are of more importance (for all concerned), but the taxi queue example might show where the seeds for any potential disrespect of others is sown. Big headed heroes, thinking they're entitled to special treatment.

 

[DangerMouse_007]

Well there we go, named by News Ltd. And with some juicy details included to boot.

The taxi queue story in Fairfax tends to illustrate quite nicely to me the attitude some of our elite well paid professionals have in terms of putting themselves on a pedestal. People will still defend players until their blue in the face claiming it's a fish bowl etc, but you still have to act like a merkin to be reported as acting like a merkin.

Obviously attitudes around women and consent are of more importance (for all concerned), but the taxi queue example might show where the seeds for any potential disrespect of others is sown. Big headed heroes, thinking they're entitled to special treatment.

Yeah I'm sure the players were just randomly walking around spitting on other people. Some woman's written into a paper making claims about something that happened in a hostile cab rank on a saturday night. Who knows what went on. I'd argue they should be allowed to go to the front. Otherwise they get harassed and this kind of crap happens. It's just a practical thing.

 

[bartman]

Some of the over paid cocooned clowns of today need to work a real job like their predecessors, mix with real people on a daily basis, and then they'd realise what they are - talented sporty guys who are lucky enough to get paid to do something they love.

I get sick of the arrogance that comes with the big pay packets these and can't understand why people think some of these clowns deserve more of a fair go, or are hard done by when they bring big egos with them wherever they go. And to think some people truly believe we need to raise the salary cap, to keep cubicle bandits and sex texters like SBW and Gaz in the game, perpetuating this cycle of players drawing attention to themselves and bringing disrepute to the game...

 

[Lockyer4President!]

According to police reports, on Saturday night three Broncos players agreed to go into a toilet cubicle at the Alhambra Lounge, in Fortitude Valley, with a woman to receive oral sex. The woman then agreed to engage in full sex with two players.
During this, the third player pulled out his mobile phone and began filming. It is believed this is what upset the woman, who believed it had now gone beyond consensual.
Urged by her friend, she later filed a police complaint.

How is that sexual assault? I obviously only have a paragraph of facts to go on but it looks like she just regrets some choices she made.

 

[Serc]

Hunt now looks quite the fool given he opened his mouth to the press yesterday...

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

How is that sexual assault? I obviously only have a paragraph of facts to go on but it looks like she just regrets some choices she made.

Maybe not assault but being filmed against your will is something that is a bit dicey.. Seriously how dumb are those 3 though..

 

[Pete Cash]

How is that sexual assault? I obviously only have a paragraph of facts to go on but it looks like she just regrets some choices she made.

You can't just film people without permission. Also, the wording of the article is not good, but perhaps it is saying that when the recording started she asked the sex act to stop???

It isn't all that clear what it means by

"It is believed this is what upset the woman, who believed it had now gone beyond consensual."

If she asked them to stop and they continued that would be sexual assault.

 

[Patorick]

Interesting that News named them and Fairfax did not.

 

[Pete Cash]

Maybe not assault but being filmed against your will is something that is a bit dicey.. Seriously how dumb are those 3 though..

Agreed.

I mean asking league players to give up drinking is a bit much, but they have to be sensible. Hmm yes a 3 on 1 orgy with a young woman in a toilet. NOTHING CAN GO WRONG IN THIS SCENARIO IM IN.

Think for a change lads.

 

[Hari Kari]

Seriously how dumb are those 3 though..

Nutbags the lot of them.

 

[Miller was a legend]

How is that sexual assault? I obviously only have a paragraph of facts to go on but it looks like she just regrets some choices she made.

Get real. Even if it's not sexual assault the fact the guys were out on the piss and then engaged in that behaviour, which is just plain stupid (particularly in a mens toilet in a public place), should have them face the same disiplinary code the Broncs have dished out to others. They are well known Bronc representatives and role models and this behaviour is yet another example of player behaviour that will create a negative impression of rugby League and the broncs. Sponsors may not wish to associate with teh Broncs if no action is taken by the club and whats worse, much,much worse is that you will never again be able to thow insults at the Dogs as rapists etc. Now that last part has really got to hurt.

 

[Pete Cash]

Yeah they should fire that Hunt fellow at once (Raiders plz throw all that Todd Carney money at him)

 

[Genius Freak]

Watch the NRL let them play this weekend, while Birdy continues to sit out.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Get real. Even if it's not sexual assault the fact the guys were out on the piss and then engaged in that behaviour, which is just plain stupid (particularly in a mens toilet in a public place), should have them face the same disiplinary code the Broncs have dished out to others. They are well known Bronc representatives and role models and this behaviour is yet another example of player behaviour that will create a negative impression of rugby League and the broncs. Sponsors may not wish to associate with teh Broncs if no action is taken by the club and whats worse, much,much worse is that you will never again be able to thow insults at the Dogs as rapists etc. Now that last part has really got to hurt.

You've got no argument from me on that.

Agreed.

I mean asking league players to give up drinking is a bit much, but they have to be sensible. Hmm yes a 3 on 1 orgy with a young woman in a toilet. NOTHING CAN GO WRONG IN THIS SCENARIO IM IN.

Think for a change lads.

So goddamned true.

 

[Genius Freak]

What level of personal responsibility do we place on the woman though?

I mean going into the men's toilet with three guys can't lead to anything good.

I'm not saying she deserved it if she was in fact raped, but is there something to be said for taking personal responsibility for your own safety?