http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dustin-martin-cleared-of-serious-misconduct-given-suspended-fine-by-richmond-20160114-gm5slp.html

[redacted]

Surprise surprise

absolute joke.
Chris Gayle, compliments girl (albeit sexually), fined $10,000 and question marks hang above the future of him in the BBL.

Dustin Martin threatens to stab a girl with chopsticks, Richmond fine him $5,000. Surely only because they felt they had to.  

Dustin Martin cleared of serious misconduct, given suspended fine by Richmond

Date

January 14, 2016 - 4:40PM

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Suspended fine: Dustin Martin was found to have breached the players' code of conduct. Photo: Wayne Taylor

Chopstick-gate never happened. That's the startling finding of the AFL investigation into star Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin's alleged - and now discredited - physical intimidation of a Sydney woman last month.

There is no denying that Martin was intoxicated and acting inappropriately at a Melbourne restaurant after attending the Stereosonic music festival on December 5.

For that, a breach of the players' code of conduct, Martin has received a suspended $5,000 fine from Richmond.

But the AFL has dismissed the central allegation that led to a media frenzy; that Martin stood over the woman with a chopstick and threatened to stab her.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the league took the allegation seriously but could not substantiate it.

"The specific allegation, we didn't find evidence of that," he said.

"Both the police and our investigation has not been able to find evidence of that.

"We take the allegation seriously and we take any allegation of any threat like this seriously."

The AFL investigation result follows Victoria Police's finding that no criminal misconduct took place on the evening.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale chastised Channel Seven, reportedly the woman's employer, for giving prominence to the claims.

"The allegations of threat to harm aired on Channel 7, and subsequently reported widely across the media, have been extremely distressing and damaging for Dustin, and of great concern to the Richmond Football Club," he said.

"Richmond Football Club finds any threat of violence against women totally unacceptable and condemns such behaviour in the strongest possible terms.

"However, as with every other member of the community, Dustin was entitled to the presumption of innocence until this very serious allegation was fully investigated."

Martin has since apologised for his behaviour.

The awkwardness of the issue was made plain by the hastily-arranged press conference on Thursday.

There is embarrassment too for Tigers legend Kevin Bartlett.

In December, the five-time flag-winner turned broadcaster urged the club to throw the book at Martin, suggesting a 12-month ban and $50,000 fine to an "appropriate women's organisation".

The AFL also announced Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner Kate Jenkins would lead a review into its "Respect and Responsibility" policies that aim to provide safe and inclusive environments for everyone involved with Australian football.

"Our respect and responsibility [policy] is 10 years old ... it's appropriate to review it," McLachlan said.

Read the full statement from the Richmond Football Club below:

An allegation of threat to inflict serious injury was recently made against Dustin Martin.

"The club's position throughout has been to establish exactly what happened in relation to these serious allegations so we could properly determine a course of action.

"The club has also been mindful of the complainant, and the nature of her allegation, and endeavoured to be supportive whenever she has been in contact with the club.

"The club welcomed the fact the matter was referred to Victoria Police. It was only right that claims of this nature were thoroughly scrutinised and the facts established.

"Ultimately, after a thorough investigation, the Victoria Police concluded no criminal offence took place.

"An AFL investigation also concluded that there was no evidence to support or corroborate the allegation.

"As a result, the club will not sanction Dustin Martin in relation to this allegation as no threat to harm occurred.

"Nonetheless, the club is disappointed that Dustin was intoxicated on the night. When challenged by the complainant for being disruptive, he was argumentative and used obscene language.

"He has acknowledged this and has apologised for any offence or distress his behaviour caused. His apology was accepted by the complainant.

"As a professional athlete Dustin enjoys a privileged lifestyle. With professionalism comes responsibility and we expect much better from our players and all personnel.

"As a result, Dustin will have a suspended sanction of $5000 imposed for a breach of the Player Code of Conduct.

"The allegations of threat to harm aired on Channel 7, and subsequently reported widely across the media, have been extremely distressing and damaging for Dustin, and of great concern to the Richmond Football Club.

"Richmond Football Club finds any threat of violence against women totally unacceptable and condemns such behaviour in the strongest possible terms.

"However, as with every other member of the community, Dustin was entitled to the presumption of innocence until this very serious allegation was fully investigated."

AAP

 

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Dusty's connections no doubt had a say in this outcome.....

"However, as with every other member of the community, Dustin was entitled to the presumption of innocence until this very serious allegation was fully investigated." (Quoted from post 4 above)

Some of Demonland's sanctimonious bodice rippers might do well to remember the above.

1 hour ago, The Song Formerly Known As said:

absolute joke.
Chris Gayle, compliments girl (albeit sexually), fined $10,000 and question marks hang above the future of him in the BBL.

Dustin Martin threatens to stab a girl with chopsticks, Richmond fine him $5,000. Surely only because they felt they had to.  

note that the fine was suspended.

Didn't film disappear?

20 hours ago, willmoy said:

Didn't film disappear?

Yeah, and witnesses didn't back up the victims story. The media wanted their man, but like most people, they should of waited for the facts to come to light. This is the second time in the past couple of months the media have done this. Martin could pursue legal action (like Gayle is), but I don't think Martin will. He will just want to get on with his football. Big stuff up by the media here.

an interesting post on this over on ology

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

an interesting post on this over on ology

hello...prey do tell, dc....

Edited January 14, 20169 yr by Lucifer's Hero

3 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

hello...prey do tell, dc....

just someone claiming inside knowledge. go over there, it's a short thread. i'm not making any comment other than "interesting". personally i don't know the "facts" but trying to keep an open mind. 

What happened to the woman who complained in the first place about Martin's behaviour?

Paid off for silence?

Edited January 14, 20169 yr by Whispering_Jack
You can't say that.

19 minutes ago, Oliver Sholem said:

What happened to the woman who complained in the first place about Martin's behaviour?

Paid off for silence?

Paid off, or maybe warned off??

Either that or she has been determined to be an outright liar.

Has to be one or the other.  

Man filmed abusing woman at match. Receives life ban from AFL matches. Rightly disgraced in every corner of the media and by Gil "I Want Everyone To Love Me" McLachlan, who holds a press conference reiterating the AFL's stance of domestic violence by men against women.

Dustin Martin threatens to stab a woman to death with chopsticks while (fill in the blanks) after a music festival in the off-season. Entire incident swept under the rug for months until nobody cares, then quietly give Dustin absolutely no penalty.

21st Century AFL.

Edited January 14, 20169 yr by SaberFang

19 hours ago, SaberFang said:

Man filmed abusing woman at match. Receives life ban from AFL matches. Rightly disgraced in every corner of the media and by Gil "I Want Everyone To Love Me" McLachlan, who holds a press conference reiterating the AFL's stance of domestic violence by men against women.

Dustin Martin threatens to stab a woman to death with chopsticks while (fill in the blanks) after a music festival in the off-season. Entire incident swept under the rug for months until nobody cares, then quietly give Dustin absolutely no penalty.

21st Century AFL.

Except there is no evidence that Dustin Martin threatened to stab a woman to death with chopsticks. What do you suggest the AFL do? Rub a guy out when the evidence does not support the allegation? If the AFL did that, Martin could take them to court, and he would win.

3 hours ago, daisycutter said:

note that the fine was suspended.

At least something was suspended 'daisy'.

1 hour ago, KingDingAling said:

Except there is no evidence that Dustin Martin threatened to stab a woman to death with chopsticks. What do you suggest the AFL do? Rub a guy out when the evidence does not support the allegation? If the AFL did that, Martin could take them to court, and he would win.

No evidence? Woman said it happened. Restaurant staff removed him from the restaurant for his behaviour. Dusty admitted he was too drunk to remember what happened, but accepted he used foul language to the woman. Apologised to the woman for his behaviour. No evidence?

5 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

"However, as with every other member of the community, Dustin was entitled to the presumption of innocence until this very serious allegation was fully investigated." (Quoted from post 4 above)

Some of Demonland's sanctimonious bodice rippers might do well to remember the above.

this is true, Bbo... I feel sure he likely said it,  be what we aren't privy to is her part of the ordeal...  Martin is a victim of his own early life,  & this can cause him to overreact.   he isn't alone in being reactionary.   Unfortunately sometimes the words used when feeling intimidated & then react aggressively, even if only verbally, can lead one into deep shyte, & thru the media... 

Many women will use all they can to hurt with a non physical brand of violence/abuse...  i have been on the end of womens abuse too often, & the retaliator comes off the worse for wear.

 

 

2 hours ago, SaberFang said:

Man filmed abusing woman at match. Receives life ban from AFL matches. Rightly disgraced in every corner of the media and by Gil "I Want Everyone To Love Me" McLachlan, who holds a press conference reiterating the AFL's stance of domestic violence by men against women.

Dustin Martin threatens to stab a woman to death with chopsticks while (fill in the blanks) after a music festival in the off-season. Entire incident swept under the rug for months until nobody cares, then quietly give Dustin absolutely no penalty.

21st Century AFL.

let stop the bullsh,  & make it about 'abuse to all people',  instead of just violence against women...   then we will catch many female instigators as well as male instigators;   much trouble is caused by both sexes playing emotional games with one another...  many men being caught in the flywebs.

So if I can get this right, he's been found to have no case to answer on accusations leveled at him, that he never disputed and in fact issued an apology for. Is that about the gist of it?

 

No evidence? Woman said it happened. Restaurant staff removed him from the restaurant for his behaviour. Dusty admitted he was too drunk to remember what happened, but accepted he used foul language to the woman. Apologised to the woman for his behaviour. No evidence?

Was too drunk to remember, accepted that he used foul language, that doesn't mean he threatened to kill her with a chopstick. FFS. The media blown this one WAY out of proportion. Luckily for the AFL, GIl had a good read on the situation, he doesn't just jump at shadows.

 

just someone claiming inside knowledge. go over there, it's a short thread. i'm not making any comment other than "interesting". personally i don't know the "facts" but trying to keep an open mind. 

193 pages at last count.

A Victoria Police statement said: “Detectives from Stonnington Criminal Investigation Unit have conducted an extensive investigation after reports a woman was threatened by a man at a Chapel Street restaurant in Windsor on 5 December.”

“After reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to all parties involved, including numerous independent witnesses at the restaurant on the night, investigators determined that no criminal offence took place."

Dustin is a DH - on that we can all agree. However, the above statement is pretty clear - end of story.

 

193 pages at last count.

wtf are you talking about. it is currently 7 pages