Barnsley have signed a player accused of

We're not hoping he gets off because he plays for us though are we? At least I'm not. I hope he's sentenced or not dependent on his actions at the time. If it turns out he's a proper little s**t then I'm more than happy to get shut and write off the million quid.
The fact is no one knows much about the case or the lad Wilks, how it happened, why it happened, how far he was involved and what he's done to sort his life out since.
I know your thread relates to the general concept and not to Wilks in particular but without the full facts in any instance it's impossible to make a judgement and there will be many cases of a similar nature where there should be different shades of censure.
To swap to Adam Hammill for example. There are quite a few who are disgusted with his assault on those paramedics. They're right to be so. However it seems that his life had been spiralling out of control and he was in a dark place and drunk. It's not an excuse but a mitigation. Again, I don't know him, but from what I've seen and heard his remorse and determination to sort himself out has been impressive. I may be a romantic but to see his redemption and gratitude played out while wearing a red shirt was heart warming. Are we saying that because he'd done something wrong at a point in his life he should have been denied the opportunity to redeem himself? With us or presumably with anyone else?
Every case is different and should be judged on its individual merits.
And that's me done. Apologies for ranting at you, it was another poster who wound me up but I'd prefer to make the comment to someone who would give a sensible response.

 

I would imagine that IF he were guilty and found to be so then his attitude and time here could be crucial to his subsequent sentence. I think he was only 17 when this occurred so not quite an adult. Plenty of time to turn his life round.

As to Hammil, I know first hand of his being a great guy so hopefully that night was the wake up call and a lot of good has come out of his being a footballer.

 

Love these trips around the moral maze where somebody comes armed with stones so that they can throw the first one. Footballers are not saints and that goes for Barnsley footballers as much as any. This lad allegedly made a mistake and if he did nobody condones that, in fact nobody on here knows the extent of that mistake. If he did wrong then the law will take it's course. In the meantime he has the opportunity here at Barnsley to do some good for himself and for the club and I for one will be supporting him while he does that.
It's a stretch for me to remember now what it was like to be his age, but I probably did some daft things myself at is age.

 

The jury obviously didn’t believe his account and, acting upon all the evidence put before them, found him guilty on the basis that he knew his friend intended to either kill or do the victim some serious harm upon taking him to the scene.

 

That's something you would never do.

 

I've not met Adam personally, but I know plenty who have and every single one of them remarked on what a genuinely lovely guy he is. Most of us on here are, I'm sure, very decent people. I would also hazard a guess that a lot of us have once or twice behaved completely out of character when drunk, and severely regretted it the next day. As someone else on here posted, that doesn't make what Adam did right. But his guilty plea and obvious remorse mean that the issue should be done and dusted and left in the past.

 

Agreed

 

Agree with your comments that the truth eventually comes out Jay. I wasn't meaning to infer that I hope the verdict
goes his way because he now plays for us. It's unfortunate that someone was injured as a result of the incident, but
with Wilks repeatedly stating that he's not guilty, you would hope that that can be proved in Court and that he is then
able to get his life back on track.

I had a friend who faced a trial on fraud charges. Over a twelve month period, it was painful
to watch his health deteriorate with the worry of his impending case. He was eventually fined and given a suspended sentence, but was never the same again. It's a horrible experience for everyone who is involved.

 

I’ve plenty of issues with it.

 

I presume they will have recommended Mr Cryne's lawyers to him
there's always a loophole its just a case of having enough money to find it

 

that's absolutely right - the crucial thing is the decision of the jury.
I think I'm right in saying that serving prisoners have been found guilty (joint enterprise) of an offence because they were complicit in planning/organising the crime but were in fact many miles away from the crime scene.
Not sure if this is right but I've heard it said that in some circumstances it is harder for an innocent man to prove his innocence than it is for a guilty man to 'prove' his innocence.
I did the 'rounds' of all the Doncaster Prisons (and Ranby) over a period of three years visiting a close friend.
One of his cellmates had 'confessed' to the crime for which he was found guilty - this meant he could apply for parole. Shortly before he was due to be released on parole some evidence came to light showing that he couldn't have committed the crime he was in prison for. Parole was denied as in 'admitting' his guilt he had lied to the parole board. He served his full sentence because by the time he had mounted an appeal his sentence had finished. And his appeal was denied.
The jury in the Wilks case may take the view that there is no such thing as an 'innocent bystander' or that his involvement was negligible.
I wish him all the best - and hope he bears in mind that when it comes to a court case the defendants demeanour is massively important.

 

Great post.

It is a gamble to some extent & agree with points made against his signing. I'm sure the club have looked closely at the case against him & at his attitude as a footballer. If he is convicted there will be options to release him. As yet he is not convicted. If we had appointed a thug like Barton I'd be boycotting the club.

 

Interesting item on the Clubs official website on young Wilks. Saying the reason why he signed for us is
that we made him feel wanted and were calling him everyday. Also nearer home for him, plus he already
knows some of the other lads besides Halme and Mowatt.

As we've commented before, there appears to be plenty of banter and the group definitely
sound to be together. Daniel Stendel also appears as though he's fun to be around as well.

We know with so many new unproven players in the squad, it's going to be a stern test to
remain/ do well in the Championship, but with their obvious camaraderie and hopefully collective efforts
let's hope they can give a good account of themselves. COYR.