The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been handed a police file concerning the allegations that John Terry made racist comments.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15985420
Pardon my ignorance of British law, but I still don't understand why is this a police matter. Could someone enlighten me?
Also, does this statement make any sense to anyone:
"The CPS received the file late on Wednesday night and will now decide whether to bring a prosecution.
If Terry is found guilty, he could lose the England captaincy"
Surely if he's to be prosecuted, then the England captaincy is the least of his worries. Isn't that the more likely punishment to come from the FA's investigation?
Stupid story, poor journalism and a waste of police/court time and resources.
Terry's file handed to CPS
posted on 1/12/11
won't didn't
posted on 1/12/11
If Terry had called Barton a "White C***" would that be racist?
posted on 1/12/11
Of course you can use homophobic language, people do all the time and they're not prosecuted. The key to this (as has already been pointed out) is that a complaint was made so the police need to follow-up, but I don't see where a crime has been commited, so I expect the whole thing to be tossed out. Freedom of speech depends on the context (e.g. if you make racist/homophobic comments at work then you can be fired, but I wouldn't expect you would be prosecuted unless they were in some way threatening or inciting violence or some other type of crime). The words on their own don't consitute a crime.
posted on 1/12/11
TGI,
The key to this (as has already been pointed out) is that a complaint was made so the police need to follow-up
===============================
No, the reason they followed it up is because racism is not lawful.
If you called someone a doughnut & they reported it, they would not follow it up. Neither would calling someone a nerd or a swine. Racism, or prejudism, is against the law & punishable by law. Whether it be a fine or a slap on the wrist, it is a crime.
Its a bit silly, like the old law of eating mince pies on boxing day being a crime - but they are in the law book never-the-less.
posted on 1/12/11
I intend to report any mince pie eating that I witness on boxing day.
posted on 1/12/11
TGI,
I'm on the case this year too.
Just be careful if Gazza offers you a mince pie because the chances are, it wont be filled with mince.
posted on 1/12/11
JUST IN:
Terry prosecution dropped. Apparently Ferdinand is what Terry called him........
posted on 1/12/11
What next? JT eating mince pies on Boxing Day?
posted on 1/12/11
Truth,
Even if he did, Chelsea would deny it.
"John doesn't eat mince pies, especially not on Boxing Day".
Or he would get an injunction out on Mr Kipling.
posted on 1/12/11
Could use the Rugby excuse that he was so pi55ed that he didn't even know where he was let alone what he was eating.