John Terry's racism trial verdict is set to be out today. Chief magistrate Howard Riddle will decide the verdict instead of a jury. Terry faces a maximum fine of 2,500 pounds (3,900 Dollar) if he is found guilty.
Prosecutors closed their case on Thursday by saying the opponent that Terry is accused of racially abusing lacks the "motivation or the sophistication" to invent the allegations.
In his statement, prosecutor Duncan Penny said Terry had been exhibiting a "pattern of behavior" during the Premier League game in October in hurling "bursts" of abuse at Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand.
Penny claims Terry was "lashing out" after being goaded about his alleged extramarital affair with then-England teammate Wayne Bridge's former girlfriend.
Terry denies a racially aggravated public order charge, saying he only used an offensive term sarcastically to counter the obscenity he claims Ferdinand was accusing him of saying.
But prosecutors said that defense is implausible, noting that Terry added an extra expletive at the start of his response.
They also asked Riddle to consider what would motivate Ferdinand to be "reckless" and concoct the allegation.
"It's very unlikely that Mr. Ferdinand in the heat of the moment, with 5 minutes to go ... would have had the motivation or the sophistication to make the allegation suggested bear in mind the consequences," Penny said.
"A false allegation of racist conduct is an allegation which involves more sophisticated thought processes which had hitherto been going on, on that football pitch."
"If Mr. Ferdinand was in the business of getting Mr. Terry in trouble he struck lucky," Penny said.
Based on Terry's defense, Ferdinand would have been a "clueless conspirator," Penny said, before adding "what sort of accuser claims not to have heard the offensive words?"
Ferdinand testified that he didn't hear the comments and only became aware of them through internet clips afterward.
No comments:
Post a Comment