Quade Cooper trial - the result

[tranquility]

It is interesting that it went this way, because it shows that while confident of being innocent he didn't want whatever motives to come out. There was something funny on those laptops....

 

[Reddy!]

...and thus begins the downfall of Quade Cooper's brilliant season - nothing to prove anymore.

 

[Newb]

It is interesting that it went this way, because it shows that while confident of being innocent he didn't want whatever motives to come out. There was something funny on those laptops....

i was about to disagree with you and say that would be the case if he had settled out of court, not if the charges were dropped. but then i re-read "completion of a justice mediation process", which sounds like a hush hush way of saying settlement.

i mean if the charges were straight dropped or thrown out by a judge they would have said so, no? so how was this actually resolved?

** sorry if i'm just being thick and not grasping the language **

 

[Ash]

Whilst undoubtedly good news for rugby, something whiffs about this and the smell is fairly overpowering.

The message appears to be that if you are famous enough and have the right connections who are prepared to grease the appropriate wheels in the manner desired then you can avoid criminal justice. Oh, and also be a good boy for the year, make sure your media team consistently reinforce that you are a changed and reformed person, that you'd laid off the sauce etc.

This might come as quite a surprise to a few on this board but the game of rugby is not bigger than civility, humanity and community.

I hardly think that rich people buying themselves out of trouble (or more precisely, paying off "victims") is hardly a new or amazing concept, however disagreeable it might be.

 

[Groucho]

Whilst undoubtedly good news for rugby, something whiffs about this and the smell is fairly overpowering.

The message appears to be that if you are famous enough and have the right connections who are prepared to grease the appropriate wheels in the manner desired then you can avoid criminal justice. Oh, and also be a good boy for the year, make sure your media team consistently reinforce that you are a changed and reformed person, that you'd laid off the sauce etc.

This might come as quite a surprise to a few on this board but the game of rugby is not bigger than civility, humanity and community.

Or he was innocent.

 

[Groucho]

Mediation is purely between the complainant and the defendant. All that can happen is that the complainant drops or modifies their claim for damages. Any criminal charges made by the Police aren't affected. This seems to indicate there were no Police charges.

 

[Gnostic]

Mediation is purely between the complainant and the defendant. All that can happen is that the complainant drops or modifies their claim for damages. Any criminal charges made by the Police aren't affected. This seems to indicate there were no Police charges.

He was committed for trial Grouch. He was charged. This was not a civil case. I do not know the rules surrounding court appearances in Qld, but in NSW the complainant would have to make a retracting statement. The defendant cannot "buy" this and if the complainant retracts by admitted their first statement had incorrect information in it they can be charged.

The mediation may be a Qld version of a criminal court deversion scheme which allows for the charged person to be confronted by the "victims", the perpetrator to complete Drug/Alcohol/Anger Management courses etc. If all those pre-requisites are fulfilled the defendant can be discharged without or without conviction.

 

[Lance Free]

I've just spoken to one of the legal people associated with this case (yes, really). It may be that the case turned on 'intent', which is of course a substantial element of the charge the prosecution is required to prove. The prosecution may have accepted that 'intent' was not proven 'beyond a reasonable doubt'. My assumption is that 'drink spiking' (perhaps indicated by a drug test) could have been been a contributing factor to this outcome.

 

[Groucho]

He was committed for trial Grouch. He was charged. This was not a civil case. I do not know the rules surrounding court appearances in Qld, but in NSW the complainant would have to make a retracting statement. The defendant cannot "buy" this and if the complainant retracts by admitted their first statement had incorrect information in it they can be charged.

The mediation may be a Qld version of a criminal court deversion scheme which allows for the charged person to be confronted by the "victims", the perpetrator to complete Drug/Alcohol/Anger Management courses etc. If all those pre-requisites are fulfilled the defendant can be discharged without or without conviction.

I submit, Gnostic. My five second Google was plainly insufficient research. :-X

 

[Tiger]

He was committed for trial Grouch . He was charged. This was not a civil case. I do not know the rules surrounding court appearances in Qld, but in NSW the complainant would have to make a retracting statement. The defendant cannot "buy" this and if the complainant retracts by admitted their first statement had incorrect information in it they can be charged.

The mediation may be a Qld version of a criminal court deversion scheme which allows for the charged person to be confronted by the "victims", the perpetrator to complete Drug/Alcohol/Anger Management courses etc. If all those pre-requisites are fulfilled the defendant can be discharged without or without conviction.

No he wasn't. There was only a charge. The committal was adjourned.

 

[Tiger]

Whilst undoubtedly good news for rugby, something whiffs about this and the smell is fairly overpowering.

The message appears to be that if you are famous enough and have the right connections who are prepared to grease the appropriate wheels in the manner desired then you can avoid criminal justice. Oh, and also be a good boy for the year, make sure your media team consistently reinforce that you are a changed and reformed person, that you'd laid off the sauce etc.

This might come as quite a surprise to a few on this board but the game of rugby is not bigger than civility, humanity and community.

I don't quite know where to start with this. On what basis do you say that?

Justice mediation is a recognised process in Queensland. It is voluntary. It i serves, I think, a valid purpose.

Just imagine I damage someone's fence while on the booze with my mates. It's a one-off event. The complainant, at the time, is obviously pissed off. After its started to go through the motions the complainant doesn't actually want to see me charged. We go to a mediation. I say I'm sorry and offer to pay compensation for the damage I did to him and I apologise for my actions. Complainant accepts my apology and takes the compensation to fix the fence.

How on earth is that "greasing the appropriate wheels"? It's resolved privately and confidentially. The courts isn't clogged with a minor infraction. Both parties walk away happy.

Is that what happened here? I have no idea. In those circumstances I think people should back the hell off a bloke who was never committed to stand trial, is innocent until proven guilty and resolved it privately with the complainant.

 

[Bruce Ross]

It may be that the case turned on 'intent', which is of course a substantial element of the charge the prosecution is required to prove.

I think you're onto something, Lance. With Quade, proving intent might have been considered too daunting a task.

I don't normally play the man, but at my age you learn never to waste a good line.

 

[Brumby Jack]

The ARU have conducted an internal review of the Quade Cooper situation and he has been fined $7,500 due the negative media brought upon the ARU.

 

[Scarfman]

It is intriguing. But let's try to stick to the facts, everyone.

I would have thought that this was a criminal matter then the "victim" would be unable to withdraw the matter. I think we owe QC (Quade Cooper) the benefit of the doubt until we hear otherwise. Having said that, I agree with the sentiment that you shouldn't be able to pay off a victim in order to avoid court.

 

[RugbyReg]

The ARU have conducted an internal review of the Quade Cooper situation and he has been fined $7,500 due the negative media brought upon the ARU.

yep, ARU release:

Charges against Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper have been withdrawn today in Southport Magistrates Court.

This follows completion of a mediation process conducted through the Department of Justice and Attorney General.

Details of any mediation agreement reached by parties involved in the process remains confidential.

With proceedings against Cooper now removed from the courts, Australian Rugby Union has conducted an internal review.

It has taken into account negative publicity for the game and a failure by Cooper late last month to inform ARU of a further court appearance related to a traffic infringement.

Cooper has been fined $7500 and will remain involved in support and monitoring programs instituted at the start of the year.

“We’re pleased Quade has had this issue resolved and can now look to move forward,” said ARU High Performance Unit General Manager David Nucifora.

Cooper said: “I want to thank everyone who’s helped me during what has been a challenging time, particularly family and close friends.

“I’m glad I can now just concentrate on playing well for Australia.”

 

[Blue]

So let me get this straight.

He is on trial for break in and theft. Next minute he is cleared and nobody will know what happpened. Mediation to me suggests you have to meet in the middle which suggest something was wrong.

What sort of banana republic are you guys running up there?

 

[RedsHappy]

yep, ARU release:

If, as the ARU has hereby stated, bringing negative publicity upon the game is finable by the ARU, the current Wallabies need to consult their bank managers real quick.

 

[TheRiddler]

@Tiger - I half agree with you. A small bit of damage caused to a fence whilst you are on the sauce could perhaps be solved by mediation, apologies, damages etc. However, if was to allegedly break into someone's property in the early hours of the morning and allegedly relieve them of some of their property and then allegedly be caught leaving said property with said goods then I would expect to be dealt with a lot more seriously - allegedly.

 

[daz]

Whilst undoubtedly good news for rugby, something whiffs about this and the smell is fairly overpowering.

The message appears to be that if you are famous enough and have the right connections who are prepared to grease the appropriate wheels in the manner desired then you can avoid criminal justice. Oh, and also be a good boy for the year, make sure your media team consistently reinforce that you are a changed and reformed person, that you'd laid off the sauce etc.

This might come as quite a surprise to a few on this board but the game of rugby is not bigger than civility, humanity and community.

All valid points, but even if that is true, QC (Quade Cooper) is hardly starting a new trend here. History is littered with examples of "money talks".
I would also add that while nobody should be above the law, noone would benefit by QC (Quade Cooper) being destroyed. He could arguably do more in the way of community morale and good deeds doing what he does and doing it with humilty and grace.

That said, if he becomes a repeat offender, off with his head....

 

[daz]

I hardly think that rich people buying themselves out of trouble (or more precisely, paying off "victims") is hardly a new or amazing concept, however disagreeable it might be.

Sorry Ash, I missed this and posted something similar. Agree with you.