I think we can draw line under this now. Tash has made it clear what he was trying to say. As badly worded as it might have been he wasn't trying to excuse or sympathise with anybody or anything.
The line was drawn at age 16 Nev, as we've seen, doesn't stop perverts limboing under it on purpose... This one will run for a while, I think.
The evidence may not be as strong for the other two charges otherwise his legal team would have told him to plead guilty. Down to the jury though. If it turns out that he is guilty of all 4 charges then he will have the book thrown at him.
I mean, generally speaking, it's going to be hard to prove that signs of sex are linked to one male over another (not that I'm saying the girl is a slag), unless sperm has been analysed, which as you say would have meant he plead guilty to those counts. Circumstantial evidence is easily waived away in a court of law... Well... Except in Manitowoc county it seems...
DNA samples would probably be difficult as it sounds like it was well after the event before he was caught. If there are text/ social media messages indicating sexual intercourse however then he is f****d [sic.]
I doubt there will be any physical evidence, it will come down to the credibility of the individuals and how the jury views their testimony, AJ is on a bit of a sticky one having already pleaded guilty to 2 charges, much of the "Evidence" will be in effect circumstantial in this case.
You have to think what was he grooming her for, not just a kiss and a cuddle, a 26/27 year old bloke doesn't usually go out just for that.
It's interesting that Adidas terminated the contract first too. They had a boot deal with Johnson, yet who is it that makes Sunderland's kit? Perhaps Adidas threatened to pull the plug on their kit deal if Sunderland didn't act?
My favourite joke was about why Adidas terminated the contract, when it would have been marketing genius to have him running about in Predators
He has certainly hurt his credibility massively by changing his plea. Whether you are meant to consider this or not, if you are looking at some guy who has done just that you have to be thinking "he is just going for damage limitation here" i.e. he doesn't want to be in a cell getting used as a **** doll.
Aggravating factor if found guilty. The judge will take into account the fact that he originally pleaded not guilty and has done so with the most serious charges.
To be fair to Sunderland I very much doubt they were pressured into cancelling his contract by others, more likely just waiting for the appropriate moment to make it public that they were doing so. Whilst others can throw him to the wolves as his (former) employers they need to be more cautious - they've done fine in the last few days in my opinion.
