Lee Barnard's Situation

This is about his court hearing.

I think I'm right in saying that he got referred to crown court on the 31st March? Correct me if thats wrong.

But to be moved from magistrates to crown court would suggest that its a serious offence. Does anyone know what will/might happen to him?

Hopefully he wont be sent down but he possibly could do couldn't he?

There hasn't been too much coverage on this which is good as it wont unsettle him/the team, and hopefully means a jail sentence isnt on the cards...

 

Just knowing that it has gone to a place where far bigger punishment can be dish out will be enough of a worry I would think. Not something that I will have to worry about I know but a couple of relatives of friends have been done for what sounds similar and they didn't enjoy the bigger court scene.

 

I have heard that date, and yes, if convicted he could receive a serious sentence. Unless any of us are a) Lee Barnard, b) the judge or c) anyone else who was at the scene we can only speculate on what will happen, and I'm sure a lot of people will be. One would assume that he can afford the appropriate legal fees and that Saints will be keen for this not to affect the on-field situation until that point, so I guess he will be receiving some support from the club behind the scenes.

 

A fair few similarities here and he's got 8 months!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12846460

 

I was about to mention the similarities between the two. But as SH says, noone really knows what's going to happen. I hope that it can all be sorted with a minimum of fuss, and that it doesn't affect our promo hopes. On a vaguely related note (strikers) does anyone actually know exactly what's wrong with Connolly and if he will be back at any point soon?

 

Bug's little dancing man with beer glass is a bit apt!

 

I've put money on it being a fine and community service order...

 

hope you are right jdub, the only thing is that the morning after it happened my lecturer said he bottled someone and could go down. That was way back when it happened, but with it being refered to crown I think there is more chance he will have to go down. Hope not, will have everything crossed come 31st.

 

Our only real hope is that he is innocent. If guilty he will be made an example of.

 

I think he returns to the magistrate court on the 31st March for a date to be set for him to appear at crown court.
It must then start to play on his mind and could be possible that he will miss the MK Dons game.

 

Well you have to work VERY hard to get sent to jail these days, providing he has no similar pre-cons and depending on what he is charged with (if its a bottling potentially wounding w/i possibly GBH) then I imagine he would get a suspended sentence and a fine. Then again he is a footballer and therefore might have the proverbially book thrown at him. I would still wager a suspended sentence myself.

 

Didn't Steven Gerrard get caught bottling someone and only got a fine and community sentance? And the news had footage of him doing it?

 

If it's the time I remember, I think all that Stevie G did was punch someone because they'd put on rubbish music! But yeah there was definitely footage.

 

Stevie G denied the offence despite CCTV evidence to the contrary, and was subsequently never charged by the CPS, but the others were and all admitted the offence and got cautions I seem to recall. The offence that Barney is alleged to have committed can carry a term of 5 years bird, but is rarely given, suspended sentences are common although it could be argued he is a public figure and may get a harsher sentence if convicted.

 

if guilty then hopefully he gets the right punishment.......

 

BPL234 That goes without saying, would you think that we would expect anything else? Squeaky clean yourself are you? Never had too much to drink and done anything silly?

 

Unfortunately, I think that Lee Barnard will go down for this. Assault or whatever he has done isn't something that is taken lightly.

Then again, I hope it is one rule for footballers and another for everyone else...

If he goes down then it will be a big blow the the squad...

 

Mixed views from me...

Gutted really - if evidence / case is strong enough to go to crown court : its odds on he could made of a example!

Don't get me wrong , if he was stupid enough to glass someone then - fair enough he must understand he is not above the law and has to pay the price, and if he does get sent down - he has probably well and truly screwed our chances of promotion.

I think is a key player to our promotion hopes ....

Question is will justice prevail

 

There is enough evidence... he wore a cast for the best part of 6ish weeks... So obviously was involved in it. Been bailed twice...


Will be gutted to lose him but it will happen.

I'm not being pessimistic, it's the normal thing to happen...

 

I agree he would be missed if the case is found proved. If time is the punishment of course.

Not the end of the world though it would make the task we have a little harder to accomplish.