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peterellis Home / abuse allegations / Michael Crockett: -
Football Star; Falsely accused |
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This
page last updated Dec 8 2008
November 2008 - Reaction
to case being dismissed. Sitting
with his parents in the public gallery, Michael Crockett let out a sigh of
relief. He mouthed ``thank you'' to his barrister and clapped a hand on the
shoulder of an NRL representative who accompanied him to court. Michael Crockett’s sister, Melissa Crockett, says the female complainant has tarnished her brother’s reputation in pursuit of money. "That's Michael's career half gone because of her silly allegations - she was just wanting money," The thing I find disgusting about this whole thing is how she can make all these allegations and they hold back her name and her photo." She said her brother was relieved but the saga had impacted on the entire family
Michael
Crockett’s lawyer tells Sydney magistrate that rape claims made against New
Zealand Warriors NRL player Michael Crockett defied logic and would not
convince a jury Mr
Bellew said the older woman contradicted her sister's account of the
morning's events on a number of key issues, and submitted that her testimony
"in fact exculpates (Crockett)''. "The evidence is diametrically
opposed,'' Mr Bellew told the court. "Within the crown's own case
there's a direct internal inconsistency between the two accounts. "It
is, in my respectful submission, simply contrary to common sense that (the
alleged offences) could have happened."
Mr Bellew said the sister's evidence exposed a "tendency to
embellish" by the alleged victim, and eroded her credibility, revealing
the claims to be "demonstrably false". Deputy Chief Magistrate Helen Syme said the prosecution case rested largely on the claimant's evidence, but "unusually" for a rape charge, also featured an eyewitness. She ruled the alleged victim's evidence, and that of her sister, was so inconsistent that a jury would not be satisfied she was telling the truth. She discharged Crockett
The former
girlfriend of league star Michael Crockett who is facing rape charges in
Australia says she believes the Warriors player is innocent. Keitiria
McColl, 20, had been dating Crockett for just a month when the
alleged incident happened. She says Crockett was always romantic and a gentleman with her and their relationship involved a lot of "hanging out at home" with her parents, quiet walks along the beach and dinners out near her Mission Bay home. The couple split at Christmas due to McColl's personal issues and Crockett's transtasman life. She was angry he was unfaithful to her. But even now she says that she believes her former boyfriend is innocent. She says she knows only too well how women target sports stars like Crockett. "I see them all the time. I work in a bar. I think these women see money, money, money because that's the biggest thing."
Michael
Crockett is facing a committal hearing in Sydney on rape charges. The
hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence for Crockett to stand
trial. His
alleged victim, 19, gave evidence in closed court Her 21
year old sister who was present in the flat with both Crockett and the
complainant she had not heard anything while in the apartment that morning to
suggest her sister was distressed or in a situation she didn't want to be in.
She agreed that losing her phone seemed to be the complainant’s primary
concern. She was "shocked" at the rape claims. Crockett
is contesting the charges. He was supported by his parents and other family
members. He sat silent behind his lawyer in the court Crockett's
lawyer Geoffrey Bellew told the Magistrate the evidence had not
panned out as expected and raised the prospect that a jury would not be
persuaded by the evidence. He has asked the magistrate to dismiss the charges
on the grounds that the evidence is questionable.
Warriors rugby
league wing Michael Crockett says a looming high-court trial will not affect
his form after five tries in six reserve grade games earned him a recall
against the Gold Coast Titans in April
He later has told how his on-field performances for the
struggling league side helped him cope with the pressure of the rape charge
hanging over his head.
Michael
Crockett, was not at Court when the magistrate John Favretto ordered him to
appear before a committal hearing on June 14. Crockett
is charged with two counts of having sex without consent with the woman, 19.
He is contesting the charge. A solicitor, Laurie Gray, said the Crown would
call three witnesses to give evidence. The alleged incidents took place at
the end of a night out last August, after the Warriors played the Sydney
Roosters at Aussie Stadium. Police said the rapes happened early on August 6
at an apartment the woman shared with her sister, 21, who was dating another
Warriors player, Evarn Tuimavave. The players met the two women at 10.30pm on
August 5 at Coogee Palace Hotel, police said. They went to a party at a Kings
Cross night club then to the apartment where the rapes allegedly took place,
police said
4 Sep 2007 - Court
Appearance in Sydney Crockett sat
quietly during his brief appearance at the Downing Centre Local Court. He did
not enter a plea and the Magistrate David Heilpern adjourned the matter until
November 13. Crockett is excused from travelling from New Zealand to be in
court the next time his case is mentioned, following a request from his lawyer
Geoff Bellow
Crockett
has been named in the Warriors starting line up for the next National Rugby
League match. The New Zealand Warriors are confident Crockett will be able to
put aside off-field controversy when he returns to the game. Coach Ivan
Cleary said Crockett was coping well with what he had been through.
Michael Crockett flew to Sydney on Monday to be formally charged before being released on bail. Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said there would be no further comment from the club because the matter was now before the courts.
A New South Wales police spokesman said statements were still being taken and there was no decision on whether charges would follow. "Michael is certain he has done nothing wrong and he will be defending any allegation made against him," Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said
Sydney police are investigating an allegation of sexual
misconduct against New Zealand Warrior Michael Crockett. Crockett has been
assisted in gaining access to legal advice. He strenuously denies the
allegation and told the Warriors management he'd done nothing wrong. He was
concerned he had been subject of a distraction for the team. The allegations
relate to after match celebrations, where Michael Crockett met the
complainant. The pair left the group and the alleged incident is said
to have happened some time afterwards, away from the hotel. The woman laid a
complaint at Redfern police on Monday and the Warriors were advised then
2008-1123 - NZ Herald - Player
cleared 2008-1122 - NZ Herald -
Ex-Warriors winger cleared in rape case 2008-1122 - Daily Post - NRL
player's rape charges are dismissed 2008-1121 - SBS World News
(Aus) - Rape charges dismissed 2008-1121 - ABC News (Aus) -
Crockett has rape charges dismissed 2008-1121 - Daily Telegraph
(Aus) - Michael Crockett cleared of rape 2008-1121 - One News - Crockett
rape allegations dismissed 2008-1121 - Stuff - Rape
charges against Warrior Crockett dismissed 2008-1121 - Otago Daily Times -
Warrior's rape charges dismissed 2008-1121 - NZ Herald - Rape
charges against Warriors player dismissed 2008-1121 - The Australian
(Aus) - Rape charges dismissed against Crocker 2008-1121 - Daily Telegraph
(Aus) - Sister 'shocked' by rape claims 2008-1121 - Otago Daily Times -
Rape claims against Warrior defy logic - lawyer 2008-1121 - Herald Sun (Aus) -
Rape claims against Crockett 'defy logic' 2008-0801 - NZ Herald - Michael
Crockett's committal to resume in November 2008-0622 - NZ Herald - Ex
believes Warrior is innocent of rape 2008-0618 - Newstalk ZB -
Crockett dropped ahead of court appearance 2008-0617 - Dominion Post -
Warrior in court 2008-0617 - NZ Herald - Lawyer
challenges star's rape charges 2008-0616 - One News - Crockett
rape case underway 2008-0616 - Stuff - Warrior
Crockett in court on rape charges 2008-0616 - NZ Herald - Hearing
begins in Crockett rape case 2008-0616 - Stuff - Warrior
Crockett due in court on rape charges 2008-0616 - NZ Herald -
Crockett due in court on rape charges 2008-0616 - News.com.au (Aus) -
Jury would not convict NRL star - lawyer 2008-0616 - Herald Sun (Aus) -
Warriors league star Michael Crockett in rape case 2008-0616 - ABC News (Aus) -
Warriors' Crockett faces court on rape charges 2008-0608 - Sunday News - Warrior's rape case court date looms 2008-0424 - Stuff - Titans
focus for recalled Crockett 2008-0423 - Newstalk ZB -
Crockett out to prove his worth 2008-0410 - Dominion Post -
Warrior rape hearing 2008-0409 - Newstalk ZB -
Committal hearing for Crockett on rape charges 2008-0409 - Three News -
Warriors' player set for June court appearance 2008-0409 - Nelson Mail -
Crockett on rape charge 2008-0409 - Stuff - NZ Warrior
contests Sydney rape charge 2008-0409 - NZ Herald -
Warriors player to face hearing over rape charges 2008-0409 - NZ Herald -
Crockett to contest rape charges 2007-0904 - NZ Herald - Warriors'
Crockett in court on sex assault charges 2007-0904 - Stuff - Warriors
winger appears on rape charges 2007-0904 - Daily Telegraph
(Aus) - Michael Crockett in court on rape charges 2007-0815 - NZ Herald -
Warriors confident Crockett won't be distracted 2007-0814 - Radio NZ - Crockett
to play despite sexual assault charges 2007-0814 - Radio NZ - Crockett
charged for sexual assault 2007-0814 - NZ Herald -
Warriors player charged with sexual assault 2007-0810 - NZ Herald -
Crockett yet to face charges 2007-0810 - NZ Herald - It's
time to deal to distraction 2007-0809 - Radio NZ - Gallop
concerned by Warriors incident 2007-0809 - Dominion Post -
Assault claim rejected by Warrior 2007-0809 - NZ Herald - League:
Crockett denies Sydney sex claim 2007-0808 - Radio NZ - Warriors
standing by their man 2007-0808 - NZ Herald -
Warriors player denies sex assault claim |
