You can say "nope" but seeing as I have personal experience of exactly that happening then I'll have to disagree. Unless one of the best solicitors in the country was giving duff advice and the magistrate involved was a liar of course. Who knows?
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Ben Stokes charged with affray
- Thread starter Titanic
- Start date
Self defence from what i saw
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
Petty sure he's claiming self defense. The bloke he punched did try and bottle him.
Postman Pat
Well-known member
Joining up with the England team in NZ.
Ben Stokes will join the England squad in New Zealand after appearing at Bristol Magistrates Court on Tuesday on a charge of affray.
The first hearing of Stokes' trial is scheduled for Monday, 12 March at Bristol Crown Court, although he is not required to return to the UK to attend it.
Stokes, who missed the recent Ashes series which hosts Australia won 4-0, will arrive in Hamilton in Friday, where England face the Black Caps on Sunday.
However, an England and Wales Cricket Board statement said Stokes "is not currently being considered" for the ongoing T20 tri-series, which ends on 21 February.
England then play five one-day internationals and two Tests against New Zealand.
Ben Stokes will join the England squad in New Zealand after appearing at Bristol Magistrates Court on Tuesday on a charge of affray.
The first hearing of Stokes' trial is scheduled for Monday, 12 March at Bristol Crown Court, although he is not required to return to the UK to attend it.
Stokes, who missed the recent Ashes series which hosts Australia won 4-0, will arrive in Hamilton in Friday, where England face the Black Caps on Sunday.
However, an England and Wales Cricket Board statement said Stokes "is not currently being considered" for the ongoing T20 tri-series, which ends on 21 February.
England then play five one-day internationals and two Tests against New Zealand.
BensGrandad
New member
The report I read said about Stokes and the other 2 sent for trial and the defence will be that it was in self defence. I assume that is Stokes as they cant all claim that.
happypig
Staring at the rude boys
Why not ?
BensGrandad
New member
Somebody has to initiate an attack either Stokes attacks and they defend themselves or they attack and Stokes defends himself. they can all say it but cant all be correct.
ManOfSussex
We wunt be druv
England cricketer Ben Stokes denies affray charge - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-43370325
Trial date set for Monday 6th August, which is the day after the 5th day of the 1st Test against India at Edgbaston. The 2nd Test at Lord's starts on Thursday 9th.
Trial date set for Monday 6th August, which is the day after the 5th day of the 1st Test against India at Edgbaston. The 2nd Test at Lord's starts on Thursday 9th.
I know it is the prosecution but the complete opposite of what was reported appears to be coming out in court today. Saying that Ben Stokes was the aggressor, flicked cigarettes at the gay couple and mocked them. I thought he was meant to have been sticking up for them?
Normal Rob
Well-known member
That's how it was reported from memory. I guess this explains why it's been taken this far, rather than being dropped.
bobbysmith01
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2015
- 785
the right footed denilson
New member
Every report I read said was he defending a gay couple who were being abused.
Beginning to sound like he could be in a spot of bother.
Sub judice - don't comment online on live trials.
From the couple of reports I have read of today's proceedings, it sounds as though the couple were more or less incidental to the later violent confrontation. The prosecution is building a picture of Stokes (and Hales) spoiling for a fight. After being refused re-entry to the (closed) nightclub, Stokes showed aggression to the bouncer, then to the couple, before the events that led to the arrest.
Unfair to draw any conclusions until his side have had their say, though.
Unfair to draw any conclusions until his side have had their say, though.
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
Spot on.
Another important point here is that the two blokes he was fighting are also charged with affray so the stakes are high for everyone. Their legal team will be trying to paint Stokes as a mentalist and their clients as scared little lambs. Stokes' legal team will be doing the same.
I find it a bit weird that the media can report accusations as if they were fact as long as they add the words "a court has heard".
The Large One
Who's Next?
That's because the accusation is a fact.
By that I mean, they have made an accusation and they are reporting that accusation. They're also putting those accusations in direct quotes, to show that those were the words used in court. Whether that accusation has any basis in truth is for the court to decide.
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
This is what BBC news have written.
They don't state that it's an accusation, how many people are going to read that and assume it is fact? I'm saying they should have to make it more clear in the wording.
The Large One
Who's Next?
In terms of what is acceptable in court reporting, that way is fine.
It's a true fact that a court has heard that that 'England cricketer Ben Stokes mocked two gay men and flicked a cigarette butt at one of them before brawling with two other men'. If the qualifying part 'a court has heard' wasn't there, then yes, that would be seen as an irrefutable 'fact'.
It's pretty clear, in the context of what's being written, that it's an accusation.
Jimmy Grimble
Well-known member
His post match interview was pretty emotional the other day - more so than I've seen from him before. Makes you wonder how much it's been playing on his mind.