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Adam Johnson Trial Verdict

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Gaz said:
Spot on, not sure why anyone believes him over the club tbh. Hes lied all along, hope he rots for 10 years for what hes done

The club were always in a lose lose position.
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[from the Guardian]
Johnson’s counsel, Orlando Pownall QC, told the jury on Wednesday that he met Byrne, Johnson and the footballer’s father in Newcastle on 4 May 2015.

Pownall told the court that Byrne had transcripts of police interviews given by Johnson and the alleged victim, as well as the 834 text messages Johnson exchanged with the 15-year-old girl over a seven-week period.

In his first police interview, Johnson admitted kissing the girl and knowing that she was 15.

Addressing Johnson in the witness box, Pownall asked: “At that interview on 4 May did you accept that you had kissed [the girl] and that you had sent and received messages from her?”

Johnson answered: “Yes.”

Pownall continued: “In the discussion was there any discussion about you being summarily dismissed by the club?”

Johnson replied: “No.”

Pownall asked: “Was there any such discussion in the days that followed?”

Johnson answered: “No.”

That reflects really badly on the club IMHO.

Johnson may well have been prepared to lie through his teeth to lessen his responsibility but a QC isn't going to risk his career on it.
A lawyer can't let his client lie on the stand when he actually knows he is lying, so if Johnson's answers didn't tally with his own recollection of events, he would have had to stop acting.

So Byrne did have the transcripts of the police interviews and copies of the grooming texts.

Either she didn't read them or read them but didn't realise kissing a 15 year old (knowing she was under age) was an offence...which would be a bit odd as Byrne has actually practised as a criminal lawyer in England.

And on top of that it seems that Johnson told her face to face on 4th May in the presence of his QC that he had sent texts to and had kissed the girl.
 

I don't know why some people are getting so worked up about it. He got arrested, got suspended, categorically denied all charges until the day of the trial, got sacked. 'It makes us look bad...... No it doesn't. What could we have done except support one of our players ? If it makes Margaret Byrne or whoever look bad then that's their conscience and their problem. I honestly couldn't give a shit. He's gone and we've got 10 games to stay up.
 
No one is to blame but Johnson himself. People over analysing this and looking for other angles on it.

Not sure how the club can be blamed for anything really. They were dealt a shit hand and would have been criticised no matter what they'd done.
 
Sweeper said:
I very much doubt it.
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A club spokesman said on Tuesday: "Sunderland AFC has confirmed that following a full investigation, defender Titus Bramble has been fined and given the maximum sanction permitted for bringing the club's name into disrepute.'
 
First and foremost I feel sorry for the girl and I do have sympathy for what he's doing for the image of the club but nobody should be defending the club statement. They've failed to address the issues properly, have made a poor attempt to express sympathy to the victim and it was clear they knew that he had groomed and kissed a 15 year old. They have made no attempt to deny this and it was stated in court.

As fans you should be demanding the truth not accepting attempts to brush over events. There's no need to defend the club out of misplaced loyalty. No point scoring is necessary.
 
rocky said:
Could have handled it better but fuck me they've been put in a terrible position. The bloke who put them in this position is getting very little stick.
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Tbf he's the one who is more than likely going to be facing a lengthy sentence.
 
samaistonsrightfoot said:
Out of interest. Why would the club knowing what he has done help his defence? Whether they knew about it or not it wouldn't change what he has or hasn't done
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It wasn't so much to defend the accusations, but it was about his character. The prosecution was portraying him as mercenary and still playing for the club (earning a wage) as long as possible before pleading guilty at the last minute (ergo, he had no real concern for the girl, or he'd had pleaded guilty sooner).
The defence team therefore tried to defend against this by saying that his club knew - therefore he wasn't hiding anything from the club to earn a wage. They were implying that he'd told the club enough to be able to sack him (and it was the club who chose not to). It's a way of saying 'he wasn't doing it for the money, because he handed a chance to Sunderland to sack him right away'.
 
Littlerobbieh said:
I don't know why some people are getting so worked up about it. He got arrested, got suspended, categorically denied all charges until the day of the trial, got sacked. 'It makes us look bad...... No it doesn't. What could we have done except support one of our players ? If it makes Margaret Byrne or whoever look bad then that's their conscience and their problem. I honestly couldn't give a shit. He's gone and we've got 10 games to stay up.
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I agree whole heartedly with this. Couldn't give a toss what other clubs fans and media will say about us. They clearly have an axe to grind and will be hoping to rejoice in our relegation in the name of 'justice'.
 
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