Mason Greenwood, the Manchester United footballer, has had all criminal charges against him dropped after key witnesses in his attempted rape case withdrew from his prosecution.
The patriarchy oppresses those brave women who come forward?
A spokesman said the decision of key witnesses to withdraw from the case and the emergence of new evidence meant it was no longer felt there was a realistic prospect of conviction.
The spokesman said: “We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review. In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
Or was there new material which showed the claims to be bollocks, which led to the withdrawal?
Police said they knew it wasn’t going to happen at an early stage but felt under pressure/obliged to show willing in an effort to keep the baying mob off their backs.
Even if he is innocent of all charges, should Man Utd determine he will damage their corporate brand they will throw him to the wolves.
@Bernie G: ’Even if he is innocent of all charges…’
Careful! A sports pundit just got the baying mob set on him merely for liking a Twitter post saying this!
It seems he and the young ‘lady’ in question kept in touch throughout his bail despite an order prohibiting contact and the police knew this, and took no action.
This is why they want to make it more difficult for men to defend against these claims.
Even if he is innocent of all charges,
He is innocent.
He hasn’t been convicted in a court of law.
…there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction has about it that nasty whiff of a “not proven” verdict.
She probably drank more than the legal limit so her recall was suspect.
He got lucky.
Ched Evans did two and a half years despite being subsequently found innocent. The reaction from the likes of Jessica Ennis, channeling her inner Javert, after his release was nauseating.
“He is innocent.
He hasn’t been convicted in a court of law.”
Nah, he is presumed innocent, that’s all.
I have looked at the football pages and am none the wiser. What are the journalists thoughts?
(i)There is a gangster culture in Manchester that, by bribery or threats, makes young women reluctant to pursue cases . I can’t tell whether that is their view.
(ii) The footballer is a nasty piece of work who was lucky to get off with it. Nor can I tell whether that is their view.
So I have no view, not even second hand, bar one point. If the case had fallen to pieces by last April why the hell wasn’t he told so then? Go on, son, sue the bastards.
I have looked at the football pages and am none the wiser. What are the journalists thoughts?
Henry Winter, today’s Times… Greenwood cannot play for England again. Just not happening. England is an honour conferred by the manager. What message would it send out if somebody who has been associated with headlines like these, who has still to explain the audio, pulls on an England shirt? The fans would rebel, stating he does not represent them. Greenwood has enough people advising him but here’s this, gratis: do an honest, humble interview with the widely respected Stewart Gardner at MUTV, the club’s in-house television channel, when United complete their investigation. Explain yourself. Apologise for the embarrassment brought on the club. Reflect on events. Then rebuild your career — abroad.
Guardian: “Although a substantial proportion of the workforce would be deeply unhappy if Greenwood played for the club again, others feel a duty of care toward a player who joined at age seven and has not been found guilty of any crime.”