Very surprised as he admitted hitting the bloke and hitting him first. Don't neceesarily doubt that Gerrard felt threatened and reacted but surprised thats sufficient to get you off. Either way it doesn't set a good example that you can hit someone and get away with it
Bizarre The person that hits first is normally the one that gets in the most trouble even if the retaliation is worse...
Not really Self-defence has always been a defence for assaults etc, and provocation can be mitigation. IMHO Gerrard has stretched the meaning of "self-defence" a little bit but the jury seem happy. Guaranteed if that happened to someone who wasn't minted they'd have been found guilty.
RE: Not really Puts a different meaning on self defence. As Terry Collier, in an episode from the Likely Lads once said, 'Do unto others, as they would do to you, but do it first'.
Amazing!!! Back in 1990 I got a suspended sentence and £670 fine and was bound over for 12 months for my part in an affray. Why O Why didnt I tell the judge that I was merely getting my retaliation in before I was attacked? Expect an upsurge in violence I say - though not from me.
RE: Not really Clearly the yardstick now for using reasonable force in self defence is pago the living daylights out of someone a la Joe Calzaghe while egged on and helped by a selection of mates!
RE: Amazing!!! I was done for something similar, also 1990 I think. Got a similar punishment too, can't really remember now. Me, my brother and a mate were all in court together and we were hammered by them.
RE: Amazing!!! Thought I was going to prison mate. Solicitor told me to expect the worse and the judge said that he had no option than to give us a custodial sentence. Imagine my relief when he said "suspended". I hasten to add that was the last time I was at court and I havent been involved in anything of that nature since.
RE: Amazing!!! Mines a similar story mate. The one and only time I have been in court. We almost blew it in court too. Our mate was a bit of an idiot, and I can't remember what he did or what happened, but I remember me and our kid s******ing in the dock. Wasn't the best of starts to the proceedings. Edit - LOL, you have to be careful what words you use on here, snig-gering is banned. Too racist!
