Ben Stokes - howzat?

[ripple11]

"A couple of beers.... And 5 or 6 vodka & lemonades"

Vodka & lemonade?

Who'd have thought....

Always fascinating to find out these incidental details.

fml.....if ever there was a moment in this trail he should have been economical with the truth.

[ripple11]

Closing speeches now happening.....and no sign of the gay couple and their "vital" evidence !?

Can you refuse to be a witness, if summoned by the court ?....and if so why in this case?

Very strange...

[Doobs]

Closing speeches now happening.....and no sign of the gay couple and their "vital" evidence !?

Can you refuse to be a witness, if summoned by the court ?....and if so why in this case?

Very strange...

They gave their side to The Sun a few months ago.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/two-men-who-ben-stokes-claims-to-have-been-defending-come-forward-to-tell-their-story/news-story/4d0d2c48bdda885989838526789920f8

Of course the jury can't take that into account...

One of the pair was criticised by one of his "friends" on twitter a few days ago.  He was pretty grumpy that tehy had told their story to the press, but refused to act as witnesses.

[DropTheHammer]

Not out!

[tikay]

Yup, not guilty of affray, & that's that, the case has concluded.

Can or will the Cricket authorities take any action against him now if they so desire?

[HutchGF]

Yup, not guilty of affray, & that's that, the case has concluded.

Can or will the Cricket authorities take any action against him now if they so desire?

Hopefully the only action they will do is bring him back into the Test Squad for the next game. He missed the whole of the Ashes over this, that is punishment enough in my humble opinion.

[tikay]

Yup, not guilty of affray, & that's that, the case has concluded.

Can or will the Cricket authorities take any action against him now if they so desire?

Hopefully the only action they will do is bring him back into the Test Squad for the next game. He missed the whole of the Ashes over this, that is punishment enough in my humble opinion.

Don't think they can bring him in for the next game, as the squad has already been announced. Well I suppose they could, but it feels unlikely. Be a bit unfair on those already selected.

[ripple11]

On the first morning of the trial, Judge Peter Blair rejected a late attempt by the prosecution to add a charge of causing actual bodily harm to Stokes' indictment.

What a joke the CPS is.

I think you're right.....missing the Ashes will be deemed enough punishment .

[hhyftrftdr]

Onus on the jury to prove he wasn't acting in self defence, and I'm sure he had the best legal team money could buy, but the video footage looked pretty damning and didn't portray him in a good light.

[tikay]

Onus on the jury to prove he wasn't acting in self defence, and I'm sure he had the best legal team money could buy, but the video footage looked pretty damning and didn't portray him in a good light.

Oh come on, butter would not melt in his mouth.

Click to see full-size image.

[BigAdz]

Just seen the footage.

He is a very lucky boy.......

[ripple11]

the jury's route to verdict:

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Yup, not guilty of affray, & that's that, the case has concluded.

Can or will the Cricket authorities take any action against him now if they so desire?

Hopefully the only action they will do is bring him back into the Test Squad for the next game. He missed the whole of the Ashes over this, that is punishment enough in my humble opinion.

Don't think they can bring him in for the next game, as the squad has already been announced. Well I suppose they could, but it feels unlikely. Be a bit unfair on those already selected.

Well I got that wrong - he has now been added to the squad.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/45186732


However, Aggers (who is usually on the money) reports;

Stokes and Hales now face ECB independent disciplinary committee, likely to face charges of bringing the game into disrepute. Might take a few days, up to a week to convene.

[Karabiner]

I do not understand how on earth he was never charged with ABH as well/instead which was a stone-cold mortgage-job.

[kp24]

Closing speeches now happening.....and no sign of the gay couple and their "vital" evidence !?

Can you refuse to be a witness, if summoned by the court ?....and if so why in this case?

Very strange...

They gave their side to The Sun a few months ago.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/two-men-who-ben-stokes-claims-to-have-been-defending-come-forward-to-tell-their-story/news-story/4d0d2c48bdda885989838526789920f8

Of course the jury can't take that into account...

One of the pair was criticised by one of his "friends" on twitter a few days ago.  He was pretty grumpy that tehy had told their story to the press, but refused to act as witnesses.

I kept thinking that myself why they hadn’t been called up to court but they were in the papers again today apprently they were told by the prosecution they “wouldn’t be needed” probably as it did I suit their narrative.