ESPN requested a copy of the defense's motion, but the court sealed the document outlining his medical needs. If you smiled, if you didn't smile, everything was scrutinised. Catch up with The Loop, 'Until we meet in heaven': Maryborough community comes to grips with triple fatality as loved ones remembered, Perfect storm brewing for housing market and it could make buying your own home a pipedream, Celebrities arrive at the Met Gala for fashion's biggest night, Catley and Foord out of Champions League final after Wolfsburg beat Arsenal in extra time, Texas college baseball player accidentally shot during game. RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: What do we want? Retired NRL superstar Johnathan Thurston, who was at the club before he joined North Queensland, also spoke about the Bulldogs allegations in a 60 Minutes interview late last year. Why subscribe to become a Full Digital Access or Paper Delivery + Full Digital Access Member? He said she had hopes of studying at UNLV. Hobbs also faced a separate reckless driving charge from earlier that month -- he was going 110 mph in a 65 mph zone -- for which he entered a no-contest plea and paid a $250 fine. Pic Sam Mooy. The NFL could discipline him if another team attempts to sign him. The new policy meant that St George Illawarras Jack de Belin has been stood down indefinitely while he faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault. 'All these years later, people are going to Google your name and see that you took a DNA test for a rape allegation my kids could Google my name, their friends could Google my name and say, "He took this DNA test, I wonder why?"'. But none of that will answer the existential questions. "We're never going to get her back," he said, "but at least he can get what he deserves to get.". "I was just thinking he was somebody who feels sorry and he's going to change something," Komazec said. Sport, religion and family: Who is incoming AFL boss Andrew Dillon? Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? Home Delivery is not available in all areas and is not the Regional edition. If you looked the wrong way, smiled the wrong way - you wouldn't wish it upon your worst enemy. In an interview with ESPN, he said he saw someone still in the driver's seat of a Corvette and remembered music blaring. They want to know everything that happened the night Tintor died. She graduated from Durango High School in 2016, and worked at the Target on Grand Canyon Drive. Johnathan Thurstonremained quiet for 14 years. Prosecutors said Hobbs' blood alcohol level was 0.01%, under the Nevada legal limit. 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His blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit at the time of the crash and Ruggs had a loaded firearm in his vehicle. A TMZ video shows the Corvette on the side of the road, partially on the sidewalk -- hazard lights flashing and doors ajar. My wife was pregnant at the time, and some of the questions she was asked about it, it was a very stressful time. Ryan, who skippered the club to their memorable grand final win later that year, recalled the public slurs the players had to put up with. Tintor's family wanted the services to be private, with no cameras, so a throng of news media stood in the corner of a parking lot at St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church, the site of the funeral. See www.couriermail.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. Hobbs' incident came almost a year to the day after running back Josh Jacobs was arrested on suspicion of DUI in a single-car crash near the airport. Out in Dallas, Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee had been arrested on suspicion of DWI during his team's bye two weeks earlier, and that was front of mind for the Las Vegas staff. Sport; NRL; Updated Which clubs are in the running for NRL's blockbuster Las Vegas plans. the allegation by a Coffs Harbour woman that she was gang raped by a number of Bulldogs players. She should never have been treated that way.". Komazec ran after the man. That is a matter for the courts, he said. Tracking fifth-year options for 2020 first-rounders: Which were picked up, and which were declined? Soon after his request was rejected Pearce left the force in a decision he says was '100 per cent' about the handling of the case. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/johnathan-thurston-says-players-gagged-over-rape-allegation/10403466, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, This man advises his clients that elections, rates and mortgages are invalid, Recreational vaping to be banned, all e-cigarettes to be strictly controlled, Qantas names new boss ahead of Alan Joyce's retirement, RBA tipped for rates hold, Treasurer refuses to confirm reported JobSeeker lift for people over 55, but says targeted support in the budget, Selling the furniture and couch surfing: Families forced to make 'impossible' decisions amid fears inflation crisis hitting kids, US updates Russian death toll in Ukraine, Twitter glitch logs users out. Stallworth was placed under house arrest for two years but given provisions to allow him to resume his football career. He played in 11 games for the Washington Football Team in 2011 and spent his last season in the NFL with New England Patriots in 2012. Over the winter, he had commissioned an artist to paint a mural near the corner of Spring Valley and Rainbow, just a few feet from where Tintor died. There was little hesitation when deciding what to call him. It will cover the Coffs Harbour allegations, new claims by the woman involved in that case that she was approached by club officials who tried to dissuade her from going to police, the allegation that a player urinated in front of media and an unrelated allegation that a Sydney Roosters player openly had sex on a Newcastle beach during a pre-season trial.That inquiry is likely to be widened to include the latest case, where two Melbourne Storm players are accused of a sexual assault.Some clubs have taken the pro-active approach. Two former Canterbury Bulldogs stars have opened up on the infamous gang rape scandal that engulfed the club in 2004 and the devastating toll it took on them and their families. It is both to instil pride and to deny any opportunity for players to give the names of others, as is alleged in the Bulldogs' case.Their grand-final-winning lock Scott Sattler spoke this week of how the Panthers side partied hard after the 2003 championship win but managed to do so without incident. They were slammed for being disrespectful and the images became synonymous with the case, Bulldog Hazem El Masri (pictured with wife Arwa). ", (ESPN requested records for the accident report from the State of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, but the request was denied, citing Lagniappe v. Mack, a 2021 Alabama Supreme Court decision involving a local newspaper's request for body-cam footage in a fatal police shooting. Titans quarterback Will Levis opens up about emotional draft day. Thurston and Lynch are expecting their fourth child in February. Now he's broken his silence about the 2004 Coffs Harbour rape scandal that nearly derailed his career, before it had even begun. 'They stood me down without even hearing me or holding any internal investigation whatsoever, even though I had a recording [that exonerated him in court]. He went to Topgolf, a popular entertainment venue that overlooks the Strip. "Looking back now, I can see how distasteful and disrespectful it was. Michael Leone, who lives along South Rainbow Boulevard, was awake and feeding his 6-month-old son when he heard a boom. Staff Writers from Fox Sports. Mirjana, Pinzon said, was wearing black. Each player involved has received a letter explaining the inappropriate conduct charges, and asking them to outline why they should not be reprimanded, fined, suspended or sacked. Chesnoff wouldn't comment on a motion the defense made, and a judge granted, in late April requesting permission for Ruggs to go to California for one month -- May 2 to June 2 -- for medical treatment. One of the boys pushed her out and gave her a gob-full. ON THE HEADER of Ruggs' Twitter page, which has been silent since Oct. 31, is a photo of a tombstone. April 1: Police give a brief of evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions. February 24: Police have by now identified 'significant errors' in the five statements given by the woman - and the number of errors increased over time, according to Pearce. Go. On March 3 players were photographed wearing T-shirts, shorts and thongs as they arrived at the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills to be interviewed by detectives. Canterbury Bulldogs NRL players Mark O'Meley, Roy Asotasi, Brett Oliver and Jonathan Thurston leave Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills after giving DNA evidence & video testimony in the gang rape scandal. February 24:Broadcaster Ray Hadley reads out the woman's allegations on his top-rating radio show. I'm a dog person like she was; I've had rescue dogs my whole life. It was tough for everyone because we were gagged and we couldnt give our side of the story., *Odds are current as of 2nd May 2023, 9:37am AEST. The scandal saw Bulldogs players accused of sexual assault after a night out in Coffs Harbour in 2004. Smoke and heat from the fire caused both men to back away. I was not involved in any capacity with the woman who made the accusations. ', Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes said in the days after the allegations were raised: 'We've had more front pages than the 9/11 disaster in New York.'. Ruggs was booked into Clark County Detention Center. They became best friends at Robert E. Lee High School and dreamed of getting out of Montgomery and playing in the NBA. When Breton announced the decision not to press charges, he even told the media there was evidence a rape had occurred - comments then NSW Premier Bob Carr publicly rebuked him for. Prices after the first 12 months may be varied as per full Terms and Conditions. Distraught family wants answers in Ruggs case, Fantasy football rankings for 2023 season, 10 fantasy football breakout players for 2023, Broncos pick up Jeudy's 5th-year rookie option, Bills ink vet Murray after passing on RBs in draft, Source: Ravens decline LB Queen's 2024 option, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Bengals' Ossai recovering from offseason surgery, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son. In an extensive interview with ESPN's College GameDay in 2019, Ruggs said he wouldn't be playing football if it weren't for Scott. Thurston revealed that he was "shocked and scared" to be interviewed by police in regards to the incident, and explained how his feelings towards the woman involved in the incident had changed over the years. Shortly after their basketball team was eliminated from the postseason, Scott and Ruggs planned a trip to Birmingham to cheer for their friends in the state finals. Police hunt for Brixton killer after woman in her 30s is stabbed to death in broad daylight near O2 Academy. How to Watch Warriors vs. Lakers Game 1 Second-Round Playoff Series, Warriors Confront LeBron James, Lakers in Real Battle of California, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day', San Jose Police Arrest 3 Suspects in Robberies Targeting AAPI Community, Malik Monk's Old Comments Motivated Warriors to Game 7 Win Vs. Kings, French Bulldog Stolen From Car in Oakland. 0. "She didn't take s--- from anyone. cost) for the first 12 months, charged as $24 every 4 weeks. Stallworth, who was 28 at the time, was suspended without pay for the entire 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the leagues personal conduct and substance abuse policy. One Las Vegas DUI defense lawyer not involved in the case said such delays are not unusual, given the volume of DUI cases in the city and the kind of legal maneuvering expected over evidence and medical records. Ryan and El Masri are not alone in speaking out about how the Coffs Harbour scandal has left its mark on them. Game Centre for Coffs Breakers U14 Youth Girls v Bellingen Bulldogs U14 Youth Girls in AFL North Coast 2022 season, Round 2 . After they left Topgolf, Ruggs and his girlfriend went to a friend's house, according to the police report. The beauty of having a digital subscription or membership is that it travels with you. The 23-year old driver of the Toyota and her dog were both killed, police said. The North Queensland Cowboys legend became the first member of the 2004 Bulldogs squad to open up about the incident, doing so in his new book,Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography. Clint Newton's rise to the top of the RLPA ranks goes all the way back to the 1980s with his rugby league journey now critical in the talks between players and the NRL's plans to resume the. Under the code, players are not supposed to bring outsiders back to the team hotel. "I remember me being on [the interior roof], and Rod was in the middle. The club says their player is not of interest to police," Channel Nine reporter Danny Weidler tweeted. The Bulldogs have been approached for comment. 1, Panthers' Bryce Young is all 'business now', Top picks Christian Gonzalez, Keion White reflect Patriots' ideal identity, Big takeaways from the NFL draft: A historic QB class, the rebuilt AFC South and new GMs thriving, NFL Nation sizes up all 259 draft selections, XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. The North Queensland Cowboys legend became the first member of the 2004 Bulldogs squad to open up about the incident, doing so in his new book, Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography. Read the full extract in the Courier Mail here. No cancellations during the first 12 months. 1; 2; First Prev 2 of 2 Go to page. The cramped quarters, and the shared anxiety of leaving behind everything for another country, forged a deep bond within the family. I want to change something. Best Players. People are always accusing women of capitalising on me too but this is the first time Ive seen someone so blatantly using it for self promotion. Adams said he vacillated from being upset about the predicament Ruggs put himself in to feeling brokenhearted about Tintor to even sympathy for Ruggs. Little was suspended for the first eight games of his 1998 rookie season by the NFL and went on to play for the Rams for 12 seasons, winning a Super Bowl in 1999 and making the Pro Bowl in 2003. "That's the advice that we had been given [to keep quiet]. ONE of the most senior police officers involved in the investigation of the Bulldogs gang rape allegations in Coffs Harbour has publicly supported the footballers and said: "There was no woman raped." The Bulldogs are currently second on the NRL ladder after a 38-12 win over the Dragons on Saturday. The family worries that the longer it takes for the case to be resolved, the less anyone will remember Tintor. Other players are threatened with probation. Britt Ramsey. Thurston was just a 20-year-old trying to make his name in the NRL when the scandal erupted (Getty), "I was not involved with her on the Wednesday night and I did not see what happened in the pool area on the Sunday morning.". Allow up to 5 days for home delivery to commence. "You can't even imagine the pain," Komazec said of his niece's death. NAMED & SHAMED: Panther axed from trial over sex tape scandal, GROSS STUPIDITY: Napa escapes ban, clubs fined over $1.5m as NRL vows never again, STOOD DOWN: Manly Sea Eagles star Dylan Walker stood down for three months, PUNISHMENTS: NRL hand down tough sanctions to Napa and Bolton. Im not even sure I think a woman could have completely consensual sex with 6 rugby players. The state Supreme Court ruled that "investigative writings or recordings are privileged communications protected from disclosure."). "I've got a wife and kids and all of the other players have families," he said. Yet no one saw fit to tell Williams his shirt might be seen as in questionable taste at best, arrogantly defiant and intimidating at worst.Williams is one of four New Zealand players at the club. In addition to the Coffs scandal, he suffered when he was dropped from his role as an NRL ambassador when he faced a domestic domestic violence charge in 2015 - with the ban lifted when he was found not guilty. Facebook. The scandal saw Bulldogs players accused of sexual assault after a night out in Coffs Harbour in 2004. Why was a football player with a multimillion-dollar contract in his car rather than one of the numerous rideshare options? Ruggs appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Wednesday morning wearing a neck brace and had his bail set at $150,000. Meanwhile, a Bulldogs spokesman has confirmed that 21-year-old five-eighth Johnathon Thurston has walked out on the club and wants to quit rugby league. On the curb sat a crumpled Corvette that belonged to Las Vegas Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III. This story originally was published July 12, 2022. Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia. I remember looking down on him.". New customers only. Pinzon, who has four golden retrievers, found herself grieving a woman and a dog she had never met and wanted to do something. A representative from the NFLPA told ESPN the use of ride-sharing apps is promoted in annual team meetings. Brendan Ross Makes NCAA Commitment to The University of Alaska Fairbanks. There was just one rule: Neither the dogs nor their humans could wear Raiders gear. In January, rookie cornerback Nate Hobbs pleaded guilty to a careless driving charge after a DUI charge was dropped. The look of love! In 2004, several Bulldogs players were accused of sexual assault after a night out in Coffs Harbour. The woman allegedly wanted to meet up with some of the Bulldogs players again. Despite maintaining his innocence, NRL has controversially stood down de Belin from playing while he waits the outcome of aggravated sexual assault charges after a night out in Wollongong in December. -. The former Bulldog was sworn to secrecy when his teammates were accused of gang rape. She didn't let anyone talk down to her, especially at Target. Two men -- the security guard and a passerby -- had tried to save Tintor, according to statements made to police, but she was pinned inside. He figured it was a way to honor Rod Scott, by wearing the uniform he couldn't. Four players had been interviewed by police. Citing tests by hospital staff before police arrived, the report said Ruggs hadn't suffered head trauma. 'The best part was when we got to where our families and friends were afterwards at the leagues club. This automatically renews to be charged as $16 (min. By the time Komazec neared South Rainbow Boulevard that morning, fire had consumed whatever was in the street. She took him wherever he needed to go, and she was supposed to pick him up from work the morning she died. "That he's going to say, 'We have too many problems in the club. News College Commitments Bulldogs News Media Release. "You don't even know how you feel anymore. No charges were ever laid and Pearce left the force in disgust at the way the case was managed by senior police. Thurston, who was not involved with the accuser, shed light on the situation which . The pioneering heart operation that only takes an hour and doesn't leave a scar is performed on first Briton, Martin Lewis reveals how to get a cheaper supermarket shop and FREE food. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. As revealed by News Corp, ARL Commission boss Peter V'landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have hatched plans to kick-off the 2024 season at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium, home to NFL side Las . He had broken two bones in his neck. The Bullfrogs played their home games in the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.. Club chairman George Peponis says the move 'is not specifically' about Coffs Harbour. If you subscribe directly with us you will also get access to our News+ Network which is made up of some of our most popular news sites, like. Ryan, El Masri and many of their teammates remain angry over how the Bulldogs were treated by the media - especially when it comes to three instances of what he calls 'ridiculous' reporting - and they're backed by Glen Pearce, one of the lead detectives on the Coffs Harbour case. The Manly Sea Eagles employ a minder who goes out with players, ensuring they don't get into trouble and arranging transport home when they've had enough.The Warriors are among those who impose curfews, breath-test players after their allowed night out and provide managerial supervision.Premiers the Penrith Panthers set a good example. "Think of Kenzli.". We are no longer accepting comments on this article. September 22, 2022. Kilgo-Washington narrated Ruggs as he swatted at golf balls. She was always there to help. Britain's rock solid support for the Royal Family: With Charles' Coronation just four days way, a major poll LORD ASHCROFT: The monarchy has to change, but the King has time and goodwill on his side. He was charged with multiple felonies, including driving under the influence resulting in death and reckless driving, and was put on house arrest, with alcohol and location electronic monitoring devices. I wish I could tell you that I was shocked by the group sex but I wasnt, the 35-year-old wrote. This option is only available where expressly indicated with the offer. A hotel worker later told police he saw the woman having sex with one player in the hotel's pool area and the sex appeared to be consensual. Thurston said he jumped in a taxi back to the hotel at 5am with a couple of teammates.