Sharkie73
Bench
- Messages
- 2,884
From fox sports today!!!!!!
Bulldogs sex charge 'soon'
By Marnie O'Neill, Paul Weston and Cameron Bell
February 29, 2004
POLICE say they are "confident" they have enough evidence to charge at least one of the Bulldogs players accused of sexual assault at a Coffs Harbour resort.
Senior police sources said yesterday that witness statements and medical evidence supported the woman's sexual assault claims.
The alleged assault last Sunday morning came after a wild night of celebrations by Bulldogs players, who had earlier defeated the Canberra Raiders in a Coffs Harbour trial game.
The woman, 21, said she had consensual sex with one player on the night in question, but had not consented to sex with others.
The Canterbury side arrived on the Gold Coast on Friday ahead of a match last night against St George-Illawarra.
The players were holed up in their Surfers Paradise hotel for most of their stay and were not allowed "out on the town" on Friday night.
Eleven detectives and a criminal analyst are preparing to take DNA samples from the players.
Videotaped interviews are also expected to be conducted.
One senior officer said he believed charges would be laid soon.
"We expect to finish the investigation this week," the officer said.
"We'll probably lay charges.
"The whole side will be DNA- tested. If we had not had to worry about DNA we would have laid charges already."
In another development, the Bulldogs board will meet on Wednesday to consider terminating the contract of the player who breached club policy by bringing the woman back to the team hotel.
Club chief executive Steve Mortimer said the player in question, believed to be a fringe first-grader, would face a severe club reprimand.
"We have a board meeting on Wednesday and we will be discussing punishment for the player who broke the club's code of conduct," Mr Mortimer said.
"There will be severe repercussions and the punishment could range from a fine to the termination of his contract.
"I would like to stress that this is an internal club punishment and has nothing to do with the allegations being investigated by the police.
"We aren't saying our players are guilty of anything illegal they are all innocent until proven otherwise."
Bulldogs chairman George Peponis said he was "disappointed, frustrated and annoyed" at the breach of the code that resulted in the rape allegations against several players.
"The punishment we dish out on Wednesday has nothing to do with whether the players are guilty of a crime or not and everything to do with a breach of our code of conduct," Mr Peponis said.
"It is a matter between us, the employer, and the player, the employee."
Mr Mortimer, understandably hurt by the allegations that have cast an unfair net over all players, said his club would come out of the ordeal strong and united.
"The measure of success of a person is how they handle life's tough times," Mr Mortimer said.
"And we have a strong club here with a very good culture.
"We will come through this better for it.
"Out of adversity comes strength and opportunity."
Mr Peponis said he felt for the players who had been unfairly tarnished by rumours and innuendo.
"There's been a lot of unfair things said about the club as a whole and the players," Mr Peponis said.
"What is upsetting is that all of our players have been slandered and that has resulted in torment for the players' wives and girlfriends as well.
"We are co-operating totally with the police investigations and we will let justice take its course but there are a lot of players at the club who are good role models."
That said, the Bulldogs management is understandably embarrassed and upset with the events of the past week.
Mr Mortimer said the club's new board which was assembled after the previous board resigned en masse following the 2002 salary cap scandal prided itself on integrity and citizenship.
"I have been appalled by some of the media coverage and the bias and that has created nervousness for my sponsors," Mr Mortimer said.
"Our sponsors are sticking with us and keeping an open mind and I can't thank them enough for that.
"While I am embarrassed about what happened, I will sit down with George Peponis and we will look at all areas and see if our code of conduct was implemented properly."
Mr Mortimer said the club had not ruled out Coffs Harbour as a future trial venue, despite two years of drama. Last year, a woman, 42, complained to police that she had been sexually assaulted by a Bulldogs player but no charges were laid.
"I now the Coffs council is very happy with the Bulldogs and we intend to keep our options open on future visits there," he said.
"We have undertaken a lot of community work there particularly with juniors and would like to keep that commitment."
The Sunday Mail (Qld)
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8822660-27561,00.html
Bulldogs sex charge 'soon'
By Marnie O'Neill, Paul Weston and Cameron Bell
February 29, 2004
POLICE say they are "confident" they have enough evidence to charge at least one of the Bulldogs players accused of sexual assault at a Coffs Harbour resort.
Senior police sources said yesterday that witness statements and medical evidence supported the woman's sexual assault claims.
The alleged assault last Sunday morning came after a wild night of celebrations by Bulldogs players, who had earlier defeated the Canberra Raiders in a Coffs Harbour trial game.
The woman, 21, said she had consensual sex with one player on the night in question, but had not consented to sex with others.
The Canterbury side arrived on the Gold Coast on Friday ahead of a match last night against St George-Illawarra.
The players were holed up in their Surfers Paradise hotel for most of their stay and were not allowed "out on the town" on Friday night.
Eleven detectives and a criminal analyst are preparing to take DNA samples from the players.
Videotaped interviews are also expected to be conducted.
One senior officer said he believed charges would be laid soon.
"We expect to finish the investigation this week," the officer said.
"We'll probably lay charges.
"The whole side will be DNA- tested. If we had not had to worry about DNA we would have laid charges already."
In another development, the Bulldogs board will meet on Wednesday to consider terminating the contract of the player who breached club policy by bringing the woman back to the team hotel.
Club chief executive Steve Mortimer said the player in question, believed to be a fringe first-grader, would face a severe club reprimand.
"We have a board meeting on Wednesday and we will be discussing punishment for the player who broke the club's code of conduct," Mr Mortimer said.
"There will be severe repercussions and the punishment could range from a fine to the termination of his contract.
"I would like to stress that this is an internal club punishment and has nothing to do with the allegations being investigated by the police.
"We aren't saying our players are guilty of anything illegal they are all innocent until proven otherwise."
Bulldogs chairman George Peponis said he was "disappointed, frustrated and annoyed" at the breach of the code that resulted in the rape allegations against several players.
"The punishment we dish out on Wednesday has nothing to do with whether the players are guilty of a crime or not and everything to do with a breach of our code of conduct," Mr Peponis said.
"It is a matter between us, the employer, and the player, the employee."
Mr Mortimer, understandably hurt by the allegations that have cast an unfair net over all players, said his club would come out of the ordeal strong and united.
"The measure of success of a person is how they handle life's tough times," Mr Mortimer said.
"And we have a strong club here with a very good culture.
"We will come through this better for it.
"Out of adversity comes strength and opportunity."
Mr Peponis said he felt for the players who had been unfairly tarnished by rumours and innuendo.
"There's been a lot of unfair things said about the club as a whole and the players," Mr Peponis said.
"What is upsetting is that all of our players have been slandered and that has resulted in torment for the players' wives and girlfriends as well.
"We are co-operating totally with the police investigations and we will let justice take its course but there are a lot of players at the club who are good role models."
That said, the Bulldogs management is understandably embarrassed and upset with the events of the past week.
Mr Mortimer said the club's new board which was assembled after the previous board resigned en masse following the 2002 salary cap scandal prided itself on integrity and citizenship.
"I have been appalled by some of the media coverage and the bias and that has created nervousness for my sponsors," Mr Mortimer said.
"Our sponsors are sticking with us and keeping an open mind and I can't thank them enough for that.
"While I am embarrassed about what happened, I will sit down with George Peponis and we will look at all areas and see if our code of conduct was implemented properly."
Mr Mortimer said the club had not ruled out Coffs Harbour as a future trial venue, despite two years of drama. Last year, a woman, 42, complained to police that she had been sexually assaulted by a Bulldogs player but no charges were laid.
"I now the Coffs council is very happy with the Bulldogs and we intend to keep our options open on future visits there," he said.
"We have undertaken a lot of community work there particularly with juniors and would like to keep that commitment."
The Sunday Mail (Qld)
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8822660-27561,00.html
