Saints
in the clear over rape allegations, by Steve Butcher
& Sasha Shtargot
- 7th May 2004
(Credit:
Fairfax)
St Kilda footballers Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna
are expected to not face charges after legal advice
that there was insufficient evidence to prove rape
allegations against them.
The
legal advice, from Victoria's Director of Public Prosecutions,
is believed to have been conveyed verbally to police
yesterday.
It
is believed it was found that there was "no reasonable
likelihood of successful prosecutions' of Milne and
Montagna. The formal written advice is expected to
be lodged with police within days.
Once
police are formally notified, lawyers for the two
men and the woman who accused the pair of sexual assault
will be informed.
"We
have not officially been informed, nor has the victim
been advised of the outcome," a police spokesman
said.
The
Age has been told that detectives heading the investigation
presented their evidence on Wednesday in a meeting
with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul Coghlan,
QC.
Milne
told The Age last night through his lawyer that he
was relieved to learn of the legal advice.
His
solicitor, George Defteros, said said his client was
"very pleased to hear that charges are not going
to be preferred".
Mr
Defteros said Milne had co-operated fully with police,
denied any wrongdoing and answered each question in
two long taped record of interviews.
"It's
clear that reason has prevailed and the correct decision
has been made," Mr Defteros said. Milne felt
he had been vindicated and was looking forward to
playing Fremantle in Perth tomorrow, he said.
Milne,
24, and Montagna, 20, were accused of sexual assault
by two women they met the day after St Kilda's pre-season
premiership win on March 13.
It
is believed the women accompanied the players back
to Montagna's bayside house, where it was reported
they engaged in consensual sex.
It
had been alleged that one of the women was later sexually
assaulted when the players attempted to swap partners.
Milne
and Montagna both emphatically denied the allegations.
They
were last interviewed by police for two hours on April
27.
St
Kilda is enjoying its best start to a season since
1966, the year it won its only premiership.
After
winning the pre-season competition, the club is on
top of the ladder, undefeated after six rounds. Milne
has played all six games, kicking nine goals, while
Montagna has played just the one.
The
allegations were part of a series against footballers
this year.
The
decision not to proceed with charges against the St
Kilda players comes a week after the NSW Director
of Public Prosecutions said there was insufficient
evidence to launch a prosecution of gang rape against
six rugby league players.
A
20-year-old woman said that at least six players raped
her in a Coffs Harbour resort swimming pool. The Canterbury
Bulldogs denied the allegations.
Links:
Official
websites
AFL
NRL
St
Kilda Football Club
Articles
Police
hand Bulldogs file to state prosecutor
Matthew
Pavlich! Just Cheeky or AFL Insight?
Nightclub
rape danger in New Zealand
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