Liam Jurrah - committal hearing in Alice Springs

[rjay 24,921]

The club must stick by Liam otherwise it sends a bad message to all players that the club has no substance and will not look after you if things get a bit tough. We expect everthing from you, your life, your loyalty to stay for less than you get elsewhere (see Scully) but give nothing apart from some cash in return.

I expect some flack from the "It's a business" people but in all honesty business is only one part of the mix in sport, an important part but still only a part. There are not too many businesses out there that draw the emotion and passion of a sport and club like ours.

We support our people, to do otherwise would be weak and against the grain of the culture we are trying to build.

[Deeoldfart 8,030]

I know I'm naive in these matters, but this decision seems staggering to me, based on what's been reported over the last few days.

[DemonWA 3,934]

i think the club will continue to stand by him.

If the club were going to walk away from him they could have done so after the initial trip when the incident took place. I'm confident that they will be in contact with the AFL to talk through a range of scenarios, and make a decision on his future based on that.

[beelzebub 23,368]

..

We support our people, to do otherwise would be weak and against the grain of the culture we are trying to build.

quite frankly i feel Liam is bloody lucky. He....no one else.....he has not only put himself at risk, not only personally but career wise. Hes put the club in an unenviable position and caused no end of headaches (sorry). In short hes been a bloody idiot. I think the club has been stellar and resolute. He should be very thankful.

That said i wish him luck. God knows where the truth is in all this.

[old dee 23,790]

I know I'm naive in these matters, but this decision seems staggering to me, based on what's been reported over the last few days.

Guessing Deeoldfart but we are talking the NT here.

Not having a trial might cause a lot more trouble than having one.

[Arrow 1,257]

Shows how screwed the Northern Territory is.

The evidence is all circumstantial, and the one who is pressing the claims against him stated under oath he was [censored].

The main prosecution witness told the QC that Basil was the one attacking Liam and friends and suggested any movement by LJ would have been simply in defence.

Absolutely appalling result and gives further credence to why there is no such thing as a fair trial these days.

[stuie 7,374]

quite frankly i feel Liam is bloody lucky. He....no one else.....he has not only put himself at risk, not only personally but career wise. Hes put the club in an unenviable position and caused no end of headaches (sorry). In short hes been a bloody idiot. I think the club has been stellar and resolute. He should be very thankful.

That said i wish him luck. God knows where the truth is in all this.

You do realize he's innocent until proven guilty right?

[beelzebub 23,368]

Guessing Deeoldfart but we are talking the NT here.

Not having a trial might cause a lot more trouble than having one.

thinking this too.

And if so what an indictment on the state of things that you need a very expensive sham of a charade masked as justice in order to quieten the rabble

Its a world Jim, but not as we know it !

[beelzebub 23,368]

You do realize he's innocent until proven guilty right?

you do actually understand what i have said right ? Seems not.

He WAS there irrespective . DUMB

Edited July 25, 2012 by belzebub59

[BIG JIM 508]

Well i think Liam might have to go if this is going to drag on for another year.

I really love the guy and would love him playing for the dees but we just dont need a year of media rubbish,while were allready struggling to win games (Saints)

I will support the club anyway but if it was my call it would be sorry mate you should not have put yourself in this position.

We have all grown to love the guy but imagine we support him and find out he is guilty.

Bottom line is that he should have never been out drinking and putting himself at risk when things were clearly out of control.

I really hope he stays but i will not judge the club if they dont see it that way.

[monoccular 17,427]

Surely if the trial evidence presented is the same as at the committal, there just has to be "reasonable doubt". The only witnesses who presented against Liam seemed pretty unreliable and were known to hold a grudge against Liam's wing of the family.

Still, it is up to a jury.

Sadly I don't think he whole sorry story will do any good for his community in any sense, nor enhance the chances of any young fellas from there being drafted.

[old dee 23,790]

Well i think Liam might have to go if this is going to drag on for another year.

I really love the guy and would love him playing for the dees but we just dont need a year of media rubbish,while were allready struggling to win games (Saints)

I will support the club anyway but if it was my call it would be sorry mate you should not have put yourself in this position.

We have all grown to love the guy but imagine we support him and find out he is guilty.

Bottom line is that he should have never been out drinking and putting himself at risk when things were clearly out of control.

I really hope he stays but i will not judge the club if they dont see it that way.

I think Big Jim there is every indication the Club will support him until the bitter end if that is the way it goes.

Like you I think he is now just hard work.

Does not even play to counter all the crap.

If the case is heard in september I believe it will be resolved one way or the other before the 2013 season.

[stuie 7,374]

you do actually understand what i have said right ? Seems not.

He WAS there irrespective . DUMB

Unlucky is the word. He was supporting his family and tribe, obviously a word you have very little understanding about.

[stuie 7,374]

Well Sep 3 it is

I wonder how many witnesses Will remember anything. Lots of turps to go under bridges by then.

Geez you're an f-wit sometimes.

[DemonWA 3,934]

you do actually understand what i have said right ? Seems not.

He WAS there irrespective . DUMB

belzebub, i understand your sentiment but surley you need to look at this scenario with a bit of perspective?

Sylvia running away after crashing his car on a night of poker and booze is DUMB

Beamer going out and getting plastered and pi$sing on a bar is DUMB

Jurrah being granted compasionate leave by the club and getting invloved in a family fued is COMPLICATED

they're probably all dumb, to different degrees but surley a bit of empathy is required in such a scenario?

[beelzebub 23,368]

Unlucky is the word. He was supporting his family and tribe, obviously a word you have very little understanding about.

mate wtf was he doing there ? Any fool could see anything would end badly. He was WARNED not to go. But he did. He fu*#&d up big time. You really want to argue otherwise ?

I spent 2 years at the top end of Specer Gulf. I saw plenty. Its all hatfield and mckoy [censored]...just painted differently. SAME rubbish though. I fully understand payback. I fully understand family and i know foolhrdiness when i see it.

[beelzebub 23,368]

Sylvia and Beamer whilst idiots in their acfions did not knowibgly enter a war zone.

Liam did. However you want to slice and dice it, it was....and still is.

By going back , as it was, hes brought all this on himself (albeit with some help ) and dumped the club right in it.

Thats ok is it ?

[daisycutter 29,613]

Shows how screwed the Northern Territory is.

The evidence is all circumstantial, and the one who is pressing the claims against him stated under oath he was [censored].

The main prosecution witness told the QC that Basil was the one attacking Liam and friends and suggested any movement by LJ would have been simply in defence.

Absolutely appalling result and gives further credence to why there is no such thing as a fair trial these days.

Not really screwed at all. Would have been the same result in Victoria

It's a committal hearing. Doesn't require much 'evidence' for committal to go to trial

We can take some comfort from what we heard that it would be difficult to convict LJ beyond reasonable doubt, but that will be an issue for the jury

[stuie 7,374]

Sylvia and Beamer whilst idiots in their acfions did not knowibgly enter a war zone.

Liam did. However you want to slice and dice it, it was....and still is.

By going back , as it was, hes brought all this on himself (albeit with some help ) and dumped the club right in it.

Thats ok is it ?

The more you comment on this the more obvious it is how little you know or understand.

[daisycutter 29,613]

Unlucky is the word. He was supporting his family and tribe, obviously a word you have very little understanding about.

Stuie, in this case 'tribe' is not the best description as both sides were from the same tribe and furthermore families were split across the two sides

A better term might be 'factions' or 'tribal factions'

[stuie 7,374]

Stuie, in this case 'tribe' is not the best description as both sides were from the same tribe and furthermore families were split across the two sides

A better term might be 'factions' or 'tribal factions'

Depends how much you want to split hairs. I'm sure Liam doesn't want the tribe split into two sides so in a way it is correct to say "tribe", but I get what you're saying.

[kretinburger 5]

ABC online reporting trial set for 3 September. Hopefully it's a quick trial with a quick result both for him and (for selfish reasons which really aren't as important) the club's list managers.

reason for edit: spelling

Lucky we are not in the finals eh?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

Shows how screwed the Northern Territory is.

The evidence is all circumstantial, and the one who is pressing the claims against him stated under oath he was [censored].

The main prosecution witness told the QC that Basil was the one attacking Liam and friends and suggested any movement by LJ would have been simply in defence.

Absolutely appalling result and gives further credence to why there is no such thing as a fair trial these days.

This wasn't a trial. It was a committal hearing. Proceeding to trial is not the best result for Liam but it's important for people to understand the Magistrate has not formed a view as to Liam's guilt or otherwise. All the Magistrate has determined is that there is sufficient evidence for a trial to proceed. That evidence will be tested in a proper trial at a later date.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

We recruited Liam knowing the came from a world nothing like the one we live in. And while they wouldn't have imagined this situation would unfold, they can't toss him to the curve now until this has run its course. This was always going to trial, but from the witnesses I have heard from, Liam doesn't sound like the machete wielding maniac many on here and in the media want to paint him as. If they were to delist him it would be a big admission from the club they bit of more than they could chew by recruiting someone with such a different background, and I for one would be calling for answers as to why.

He may well be found guilty and if so, the club are free to cut him loose, but nothing has changed this afternoon from where we were before this committal hearing started, being sent to trial is far from a guilty verdict.

Edited July 25, 2012 by Forest Demon

[PaulRB 6,362]

Culture, like character, is forged by adversity.

MFC must stick with Liam through this, and will be a stronger and wiser club for it.

Edited July 25, 2012 by PaulRB