Matthew Johns sex scandal in 2002

[God-King Dean]

I like the way she referred to him as " Matty Johns ".

 

[El Diablo]

perhaps 4 Corners should investigate something like this and see if everything is as it should be

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/02/10/1107890345793.html?oneclick=true

Police bungled woman's sex assault claim
By Selma Milovanovic
February 11, 2005

Two police could face disciplinary action after an Ombudsman's report damned a bungled investigation into a woman's claims that former Carlton footballer Heath Culpitt sexually assaulted her more than five years ago.

Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland yesterday offered his personal apology to the former stripper over the "almost total systems failure", but assured other women pursuing similar claims against footballers that the mistakes in this case were isolated.

The Ombudsman found last month that police failed to conduct their investigation in an adequate and timely manner.

A spokeswoman for the Ombudsman confirmed that the report found "serious deficiencies" in the police investigation. But she would not confirm that the suspect's DNA was not taken; that a tape of his police interview was lost; and that the woman's calls to police were ignored for years.

The woman's allegations last year sparked an internal police review of up to 17 other complaints against professional footballers. While its final report is due in the coming weeks, Mr Overland said preliminary advice indicated police had dealt with the matters adequately.

Mr Overland admitted that while most police were not reluctant to investigate famous people, he could not discount the possibility that some officers "wouldn't be intimidated or wouldn't have other reasons for perhaps not pursuing allegations against high-profile people as vigorously as they might".

The spokeswoman for the Ombudsman said the Ombudsman recommended disciplinary action be taken against three police officers. One has since left the force. Mr Overland confirmed the two remaining officers could

face internal disciplinary measures after an Ethical Standards Department investigation.

"I think it's really a failure of our system, almost a total failure," Mr Overland said.

"The matter just simply didn't progress for a number of years."

The woman, "Kate", said in the media last year that she considered contacting the Ombudsman after Victoria Police almost ignored her allegations that Culpitt sexually assaulted her in late September 1999 - three days after the Kangaroos beat the Blues in the AFL grand final.

The Ombudsman's office contacted her first, while the sexual crimes squad picked up the original investigation, which is now close to being completed.

Kate, who was a stripper at the time, claims she was sexually assaulted at a house party to which she went with some Carlton footballers she had met at the Crown Casino complex.

She claims she first had consensual sex with former Carlton footballer Brad Pearce, now 33, and went to sleep. She awoke while Culpitt, now 26, was sexually assaulting her.

While the Ombudsman's report has not been publicly released, a leaked copy found that police failed to get statements from witnesses immediately after the alleged event. The crime scene was not properly examined and some players present were not interviewed until 2004.

The Ombudsman also criticised the force for ignoring the woman's repeated phone calls for an update on her case.

Mr Overland said that while he could not apologise on behalf of Victoria Police, "I don't think we did a good enough job and for that, personally, I'm sorry."

"Kate" yesterday told Radio 3AW she was angry when the police continued to ignore her calls after she had reported the matter.

"At the start I didn't say too much because I wasn't sure how it all worked... But then when it got to the point of years down the track, I was getting very frustrated," she said.

She said she believed police did not take her seriously because she was a stripper and the accused was a footballer.

Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon and the Office of Women's Policy have established the Statewide Steering Committee to Reduce Sexual Assault.

Last year, a Victorian Law Reform Commission recommended major changes to how courts treat rape and sexual assault victims.

Opposition police spokesman Kim Wells urged the Government to review procedures.

Police Minister Tim Holding would not comment.

- with Farrah Tomazin, Orietta Guerrera

 

[myanonymoususername]

More on the story in today's Sun-Herald. I wonder what 4 Corners are holding back for tomorrow nights' show?

A few thoughts on this story.

Even before the program has screened, popular league figure Matthew Johns used his presenter's position on Channel Nine's Footy Show to express remorse for having group sex with a 19-year-old kitchen hand in New Zealand seven years ago.

Is that remorse for doing it? Or for being caught out and named (and shamed)? Remorse for the potential loss of his lucrative career?

Johns's father Gary said yesterday: "We have been through it all before. It's in Matthew's best interests now that we let this all die down."

Yep, lets keep it all under that carpet where it was swept years ago.

The Reverend George Capsis, who was chaplain to the Cronulla Sharks at the time, said he was aware of the incident but "the players didn't want to talk to me about it. I suppose they were embarrassed.

"I did try and tackle it with one of them - not Johns, another player - and he was pretty contrite about it."
Asked if he was surprised Johns was involved, he said: "I don't think I would like to answer that."
Mr Capsis said: "There were things that went on that were pretty unsavoury - stuff that went on that the club didn't know about that I know about as the chaplain.
"There were times when I would get a call early in the morning that someone was drunk and I had to go to the cops and clear it all up. It's been going on for years."

Embarrassed, or maybe relieved they got away with something? His declining to comment on Johns' involvement suggests perhaps Johns' to be a serial offender.


(Waiting now for Sharks fans and some of the more feral on this forum to claim Rev Capsis is some sort of bitter old fool with an axe to grind against the Sharks).

Keith Burgess, the woman's boss at the Racecourse Hotel in Christchurch, where the incident occurred, said: "She is the last person you expect to be involved in that kind of thing."

A different perspective from the one the players no doubt portrayed to the police, their club and their own families, which no doubt would have been that she was a s**t who was the initiator of it all.

New Zealand police investigated the incident at the time and did not lay charges. The case will not be re-opened.

It would be a waste of time now. As then it comes down to questions of consent and when you have a team of players saying one thing and the woman saying something else, its always going to be near on impossible to prove criminal activities occurred unless (a) a player breaks ranks (b) there were other witnesses (c) it was somehow recorded (d) she has injuries (even then the accused would claim it was just a bit of fun, she liked it rough). Alternatively if the police investigation was half arsed, they'd hardly like to reopen the books on it.

 

[myanonymoususername]

(1)is the ABC reporter causing his wife trauma again for no good reason? Yes

(2) is she causing trauma to his children again at home and more than likely at school? Yes

(3) could she be costing charities money in the future'? Yes

(4)did Johns do anything illegal? No

(5)will any good come out of her reporting this 7 year old story? No

(6) she has done far worse than Johns imo

(1). Maybe he should have thought about this at the time. He made his bed, now he's just got to lie in it.
(2) See (1). His problem, should have thought about it before getting his dick out of his pants
(3) Maybe but unlikely. If Johns doesn't do charity events someone else will step up.
(4) Who knows? Its quite possible illegal activity took place but there was a lack of sufficient evidence to prosecute successfully.
(5) Who knows? It might force more aggressive changes to the NRL player behaviour culture.
(6) No, anything the report does is a direct consequence of what he did in the first place.

 

[myanonymoususername]

the game is getting bashed from pillar to post and it's because the media only want one code of football

they are simply trying to kill league. nothing more, nothing less

look at the DT story on chair pulling ffs. despite it being denied they accuse them anyway with no proof

i hope to read the ABC journos name in the road toll

Why? You really are paranoid about criticism of the game.

Charming about the journo being part of the road toll. Just lovely!

 

[El Diablo]

Why? You really are paranoid about criticism of the game.

Charming about the journo being part of the road toll. Just lovely!

damn right

she has done far worse than Johns and does not deserve to draw breath

see my post previously saying what damage she has done

 

[Cloud9]

Why? You really are paranoid about criticism of the game.

Charming about the journo being part of the road toll. Just lovely!

Hello Bourbon Beccy.

How about we print details of you having a bonding session with your partner for all to read. It's in the public interest.

Charming

 

[bartman]

is the ABC reporter causing his wife trauma again for no good reason? Yes

is she causing trauma to his children again at home and more than likely at school? Yes

To be honest if these are a problem, Johns should have kept his dick in his pants, or not invited his mates over to watch in the room in 2002.

could she be costing charities money in the future'? Yes

Hmmm, that would be due to Johns' actions and reputation if that is the case, not simply a case of "her fault".

did Johns do anything illegal? No

Agree, but irrelevant.

will any good come out of her reporting this 7 year old story? No

she has done far worse than Johns imo

Yes, good can come from it.

I hope the response to the 4 Corners show as a whole is not more head in the sand or afl comparison stuff... but a case of rugby league finally getting serious and putting a priority on the player education programs from a young age, and having a clear code of behaviour to avoid incidents and harm to the games' image caused by players while travelling for games (this incident, Coffs, the ones we don't hear about etc).

 

[myanonymoususername]

Hello Bourbon Beccy.

How about we print details of you having a bonding session with your partner for all to read. It's in the public interest.

Charming

Ok, Cloud 9 I see you're from Townsville so mental geniusation goes with the territory.

What's el Diablo's excuse?

 

[Cloud9]

Ok, Cloud 9 I see you're from Townsville so mental geniusation goes with the territory.

What's el Diablo's excuse?

I'm from Melbourne originally.
Have you been to Townsville?

 

[El Diablo]

To be honest if these are a problem, Johns should have kept his dick in his pants, or not invited his mates over to watch in the room in 2002.

he didn't and has had to live with it

now some nuffy from the ABC just wants to make it worse. worse for him, his wife, children and possibly charities

Agree, but irrelevant.

why is it irrelevant :?

the only person he should have to answer to over this is his wife. it's none of this journos business who he f**ks

Yes, good can come from it.

like his kids possibly getting teased at school because the media have made him out to be a monster?

i can really see how thats good :?

I hope the response to the 4 Corners show as a whole is not more head in the sand or afl comparison stuff... but a case of rugby league finally getting serious and putting a priority on the player education programs from a young age, and having a clear code of behaviour to avoid incidents and harm to the games' image caused by players while travelling for games (this incident, Coffs, the ones we don't hear about etc).

exactly what have Johns or the Dogs done wrong?

certainly nothing against the law

it's just a hatchet job on League

thank christ the Footy is on so there's something decent to watch

 

[Didgi]

and possibly charities

What do charities have to do with it?

 

[El Diablo]

What do charities have to do with it?

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25455073-5001021,00.html

Trading on his good public image, Johns has forged a lucrative career from music, book and film deals with Sony BMG Music Entertainment, publishers Pan Macmillan and Harper Collins and Paramount Pictures.

He is also an ambassador for the Sony Foundation, a role in which he has helped to raise millions of dollars for charity. The Fordham Company,which manages Johns' career, says the star is one of their most sought-after corporate MCs and that his talents are in constant demand.

do you think he will be as sought after once this airs and be able to raise as much money?

i wouldn't think so

if that turns out to be the case then those charities can thank the ABC if less money is raised

 

[myanonymoususername]

I'm from Melbourne originally.
Have you been to Townsville?

No, must get up there someday. Been to Cairns though. Close enough?

 

[myanonymoususername]

the version Police didn't believe

This doesn't make it seem like they didn't believe her.

Christchurch detective senior sergeant Dave Long was one of five officers who travelled to Australia to interview the 40 players and team members who spent nine days in Christchurch for the Sharks' 2002 pre-season game against the Warriors.
"There's never been a question of any (charging the former waitress with making a) false complaint," Long told Sunday News.
"It comes down to that issue of whether that activity that took place was criminal or not.
"We launched an investigation here in Christchurch and from there a team went to Sydney and interviewed every member of the touring party that came to New Zealand.
"There was insufficient evidence to put any of the allegations before the court.
"A clear focus of that investigation was narrowed down to issues of consent on behalf of the complainant and the belief of those people that it was alleged had offended against her in relation to consent."

In other words it all came down to he said/she said - and I suppose when its 10 to 1 or something the majority will win, especially if they had a fair bit of time to get their stories all lined up.

 

[CanadianEagle]

blah blah blah,
yes, blah blah blah blah blah

 

[Azkatro]

the game is getting bashed from pillar to post and it's because the media only want one code of football

they are simply trying to kill league. nothing more, nothing less

look at the DT story on chair pulling ffs. despite it being denied they accuse them anyway with no proof

i hope to read the ABC journos name in the road toll

Your intelligence astounds me.

 

[myanonymoususername]

blah blah blah,
yes, blah blah blah blah blah

aaahhh, another intellectual giant contributing to the discussion.

 

[Timmah]

This doesn't make it seem like they didn't believe her.



In other words it all came down to he said/she said - and I suppose when its 10 to 1 or something the majority will win, especially if they had a fair bit of time to get their stories all lined up.

The inference you're making assumes guilt.

Nobody has been found guilty.

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25455073-5001021,00.html



do you think he will be as sought after once this airs and be able to raise as much money?

i wouldn't think so

if that turns out to be the case then those charities can thank the ABC if less money is raised

Those charities will find another sportsman/sportswoman to work on their behalf.