The trial of Adam Johnson (part 2)

I expect that 'mitigation' will be a big part of his 'guilty' plea, because he'll say that he didn't realise that what he was doing was 'grooming' and he's "not usually like that" . . . . consequently, he'll almost serpently (keeping with the 'snake' theme) not get what he deserves

 

People who do that don't always go to prison though fella. I've given some reasons in my last post. The judge in sentencing also needs to consider the likely hood of re-offending, prison population and resources which are all over the shop.

Just got a feeling he'll escape serving time.

 

Pedantic time... 8 actually - there's a full stop after the "sorry"!!

 

We'll let's both hope you're wrong then

 

I certainly hope you're wrong but, after working in the courts and prison service for around 10 years between the two, I think you're right.

Too many questions that will never be answered - the prosecutions witnesses did nothing for their case either and showed the victim in a poor light IMO (particularly "friend 1" who seemed to say that the victim only went to the police after he didn't turn up to have sex with her!)

I'd fancy me with no legal background to be able to pick holes in what I've seen from the prosecution so far!

 

Defo, the boy needs a good hiding. Courts can't sentence people to a beating but prisoners can. The lad needs kicking pillar to post.

 

Yep I really do have little faith in our justice system.

 

Me neither. Sentencing and resources are the problem imo. Everything up to that point is spot on, then it just goes to ****. Reading nonce cases in the run up to this, some of the monsters who've escaped prison is scary reading. It's disgraceful.

 

It's absolute bollocks how some of those scumbags get away with murder [sic.] Johnson isn't an angel, but if he gets a hefty sentence whilst some nonce that's interfered with a 7 year gets 6 months then that tells you exactly what is wrong.

I personally think he'll get anywhere from 6 months to two years. If he does get two years though I would be astounded.

 

It's sickening mate.

 

Aye it is. Too many incidences of judges giving light sentences to Savilleesque perverts.

 

Got to be the 'typo of the day' from Sky's live updates, Gordon will be furious..

Andy Hughes from Twitter7m


Defence: "What was going through your Ming while you were kissing her?" AJ: "I had all sorts of things going on in my head."

 

Trying to look at this from a legal point of view rather than a moral one, I actually think that a lot of the evidence AJ has given today is very plausible. To be honest I'd be surprised if it wasn't with the amount of time he's had to prepare and the legal team he has. This is still 'friendly' questioning though, so it will be interesting to see how t looks once he faces hostile questioning.

 

It's very plausible and sheds a whole new light on the situation. Did he kiss the girl? Yes. Did he 'groom' her? Undoubtedly. Did he have sex with her? No. Did he have sexual contact with her? Unclear. There is little evidence to back up the 'more serious' charges so far. Unless the defence come out with a whammy, he will be found guilty of the two offences he has admitted and probably get a few months in prison. Just my take on it.

 

One of the comments he made today makes a hell of a lot of sense and should shake the corridors of the FA, PFA and every premier league club, as it holds true regardless of the outcome.

Being a young Premier League footballer means he is living a dream life, with everything done for him. It has not allowed him to mature properly. That isn't an excuse for his actions, but it focuses on a major problem in the game. It's about time the game as a whole started addressing this issue as it's one that goes far beyond this case.

 

Exactly. You give young men in their prime a small fortune combined with celebrity status and they think they can do what they want. Boys and their toys springs to mind. They think they are untouchable.

 

I'm not normally a fan of much that Man United do, but you never got many of the young stars that grew up under Fergie's wing getting into this sort of bother. From stuff I've read they had a very strict culture at the club for young players and focused on more than their football development. I know Giggsy turned out to be a bit of a lethario, but not an illegal one. Perhaps more clubs should be looking at what Fergie did at Man United.

 

The old boot room scenario would be a good place to start. Get them to clean the older pro's boots, pay them a pittance until they 'make it' as well. They need authority and a father figure to make sure they don't get out of control. It sickens me that some of these teenage 'stars' get paid obscene amounts. It just increases their arrogance. You seem some of them hitting the town and trying it on with just about any star struck lass knowing full well they will pull. Some of them take it to extremes because they can. No control whatsoever on their behaviour.

 

Fully agree mate, but it'll never happen. It's gone too far, the days of them being paid an apprentice wage and living in digs is from a bygone era.

There's teenage lads who haven't even had a sniff of first team action, who are pulling £5k a week plus in the PL at the minute.