Latest news with #notguilty
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Niall Gilligan found not guilty of assaulting boy (12) with stick
A jury has found former Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan not guilty of assaulting a then 12 year-old boy with a stick. At Ennis Circuit Court today, the jury delivered a majority not guilty verdict that Mr Gilligan of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge had assaulted, causing harm of the boy, at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th, 2023. Mr Gilligan sat impassive in the court as the court registrar read out the not guilty verdicts. . Shortly after midday Judge Francis Comerford told the jury they could make a 11-1 or 10-2 majority verdict in the case. READ MORE In his closing speech to the jury on Monday, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL, said in no way is Mr Gilligan trying to suggest that he was entitled to punish the boy as was suggested. He and said that the injuries sustained by the boy 'are clearly regrettable'. Mr Whyms said that on the evening at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Mr Gilligan 'didn't know that he was dealing with a child and did not create this situation'. Mr Whyms, instructed by solicitor Daragh Hassett, said that Mr Gilligan 'was at the end of his tether' by the vandalism being done to a vacant property he was trying to sell. Putting forward the defence of reasonable force against the charge, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan was at the Jamaica Innhostel on the night of October 5th 'in the dark and believed that he was under siege'. He needed to 'make an instant decision and so we are here'. He said: 'Believing himself under threat and needing to protect himself and his property, Niall Gilligan needs to make an instant decision and so we are here.' Mr Whyms said: 'And Mr Gilligan, a family man who has young children and no previous convictions, gives a clear story which hasn't changed and an entirely credible, fulsome account of what happened.' In her closing speech on Monday, Ms Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told the jury: 'This is a story of a man who lost his cool. She said: 'Instead of picking up the boy after he slipped and bringing him out to his car and driving him home and telling his parents, he hit him and lost it and he was angry and frustrated.' Ms Comerford said that the alleged assault in broad daylight 'is the action of a man who took out his anger and frustration on a child. There is no evidence that his injuries were caused by anything other than his interactions with Niall Gilligan'. Ms Comerford said that Niall Gilligan 'lost control and punished the boy for the damage and inconvenience caused to his property on a morning when he had to clean up human faeces and urine from his property'.
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Former hurler Niall Gilligan found not guilty of assaulting boy with stick
A jury has found former All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan not guilty of assaulting a then 12-year-old boy with a stick. Mr Gilligan, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, had been accused of assault causing harm to the boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th, 2023. Advertisement At Ennis Circuit Court on Wednesday, the jury delivered a majority not guilty verdict. Mr Gilligan sat impassive in the court as the registrar read out the not guilty verdicts in the case concerning the assault causing harm charge and use of a stick. More to follow...
ABC News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs's' criminal conviction may not end his career
In the hours after the jury handed down its verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs's federal court case, a video began to circulate online. It shows a group gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse. Some throw their hands up, others dance, and one squirts a bottle of baby oil on another. They appear to be celebrating Combs — who at the end of 2024 was indicted on US federal charges following a slew of civil lawsuits — being found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, greatly reducing his potential jail time. On July 4, after weeks of trial testimony, including an emotional statement from a heavily pregnant Cassie Ventura — who settled a civil suit against her former partner Combs last year — a jury delivered its finding. The 55-year-old was guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, his least serious charges. Combs was found not guilty on two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and on one count of racketeering conspiracy. He will be sentenced in October. For the fans that gathered outside of the courthouse, it was as good as a victory. Some yelled "free Diddy" as others rushed to supply the abundant news cameras with sound bites claiming all the charges against Combs should have been struck off. The response from fans shows a path forward for the celebrity despite him being convicted of a serious crime. There's something unique about being more than just a casual fan of an artist, according to Bertha Chin, an expert in fandom subculture and a senior lecturer in media and cultural studies at Singapore National University. A strong sense of what feels like a reciprocal connection with a celebrity — otherwise known as a parasocial relationship — can lead to fans being not only engaged with an artist's work, but also "involved in the politics", she told ABC Entertainment. In recent years, parasocial relationships have become increasingly prevalent — in part because celebrities are nurturing them. "We're saturated with choices, so it's all the more important for artists and celebrities to develop a relationship with their fans. It's a mutually beneficial relationship," Dr Chin said. "Artists are promoting their latest projects or themselves, whereas fans inherently see themselves being represented by the artists, or want to achieve something towards emulating said artists." And in that relationship, there can be a blurry line between a fan defending an artist and willingly ignoring an artist's bad, or illegal, behaviour altogether. "There's been a lot of discussions … on whether fans should separate the creator from the art, that continuing to support the media does not necessarily mean that they are also supporting the actions of its creators," Dr Chin said. "It's a complex emotion, and I'd say some fans are more successful at separating the creator from the creative works than others." Fans sticking by their favourite artists even after they have been convicted of a violent crime is not unheard of. A day before Combs's verdict was handed down, thousands of music fans were lining up outside Glasgow's 50,000-plus capacity Hampden Park stadium to see Chris Brown live in concert. After a string of mid-2000s hit songs, Brown was charged with attacking his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. He pleaded guilty to felony assault over the incident, accepting a plea deal that gained him five years of probation, community service and domestic violence training. Brown has faced numerous legal issues in the years since his 2009 conviction, including an assault charge this past May. He also caused controversy in June when he posed with his hands around the neck of a female fan during a meet-and-greet. When local news outlet STV questioned the anticipatory fans waiting outside Hampden Park, some said they had no knowledge of the incident at all, some said he had changed, and one woman said she loves a "bad boy". "Both Sean Combs and Chris Brown exert a very particular kind of hyper-masculine trait that attracts a very specific type of fan," Dr Chin said. "Certain artists will attract a specific kind of following based on their image or branding … It's not really about the parasocial relationships as such, but more what fans see and understand an artist represents." Following his trial, Combs was denied bail, which means he will stay behind bars at least until his sentencing in October. After his sentence is handed down, Combs will have the option to appeal against his conviction or the sentence. Outside of the federal case, Combs is still facing 66 civil lawsuits that accuse him of sexual assault, false imprisonment, battery and more. Speaking to the Associated Press, Evan Nierman, CEO and president of crisis public relations firm Red Banyan, said he saw a path for Combs to emerge relatively unscathed, despite all of the accusations. "This is a very positive outcome overall for him. And it does give him an opportunity to try to rebuild his life," Mr Nierman said. "It won't be the same, but at least he's likely going to be out there in the world and able to move forward." While each of Combs's convicted charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, the prosecution has pointed to sentencing guidelines that appear to recommend a prison term of a little more than five years. Combs's lawyers say the sentence should be a maximum of two years, with time served on account of music star being behind bars for more than a year. "It's a powerful thing for the hip hop mogul to go public …that the feds tried to come after him and they failed," Mr Nierman said. "I could definitely see him leaning into that." ABC/AP
Malay Mail
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault in 2023 London nightclub bottle attack
LONDON, July 11 — US singer Chris Brown today pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm by allegedly attacking a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub two years ago. Brown last month denied a more serious charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an 'unprovoked attack' on Abraham Diaw in a London nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court today, where he spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas of not guilty to causing actual bodily harm and a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. Brown's co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 38, also pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing actual bodily harm, having previously denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm. The pair's trial is due to begin on October 26, 2026. Around 20 supporters sat in the public gallery behind the dock during today's short hearing, with two saying 'we love you, Chris' as he left the court. The R&B star, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as 'Loyal', 'Run It' and 'Under the Influence', was granted bail in May after paying a £5 million (US$6.7 million) security fee in order to begin his 'Breezy Bowl XX' tour. Brown was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England in May after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident two years ago. — Reuters
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Prep school lacrosse player's accused killer found not guilty of murder
Raul Valle, accused of stabbing Fairfield, Connecticut prep school lacrosse player James "Jimmy" McGrath to death in March 2022, has been found not guilty on murder and intentional manslaughter charges. Valle was also acquitted of first- and second-degree intentional assault. The jury was deadlocked on charges of first-degree reckless manslaughter and first- and second-degree reckless assault. Judge Shari Murphy declared a mistrial on those deadlocked charges. Valle, now 20, was tearful during an emotional reaction to the verdict. He was 16 when McGrath, 17, was stabbed to death during a booze-fueled teenage brawl following a house party. McGrath played lacrosse at Fairfield College Preparatory School. Outside the courtroom, McGrath's father, Kevin McGrath, reacted to the verdict with shock. "I'm astonished at the results, but, you know, it's due process. [Valle] is entitled to it. And at the end of the day, the jury made their verdict," he said. "I'm not sure if, you know, if they were in the same courtroom as we all were together, but that's the verdict, and we'll live with it." He described himself as "perhaps overconfident" that Valle would be convicted when he learned that the jury had returned a verdict. Read On The Fox News App "I'm shocked. You know, it's probably why I'm in control," he said. "I'm shocked right now of the verdict." However, McGrath said the trial was fair. "Raul Valle received a fair trial," he said. "I don't believe Raul Valle woke up Saturday morning and said he was going to kill Jimmy McGrath. You know, I never believed that. They didn't know each other. I'm just in shock that an innocent young man with a brilliant potential is not with us anymore. And the person that took his life is right now free tonight." McGrath thanked the first responders, investigators, the court and the media for conducting themselves professionally throughout the criminal justice process. The family's attorney, Michael Rosnick, mentioned in passing that the state could retry Valle on the lesser included charges where a mistrial was declared. "There are lesser included charges," he said. "I anticipate, we anticipate, that the state's attorney's office will file an information, but I'm going to let the state's attorney's office speak for itself." Deadlocked Jurors In Prep School Lacrosse Player's Killing A 'Great Sign' For Defense: Expert Donna Rotunno is a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. She told Fox News Digital that the not-guilty verdict on the murder charge is justified. "I don't think that the punishment would fit the elements of the crime in this circumstance," she said Wednesday afternoon. "I don't think this rises to the level of … where somebody should spend the rest of their life in prison. And it's an awful, terrible, tragic situation. But I don't think that there was the level of intent necessary to spend the rest of their life in prison. "There is never an intent to use [a weapon]. Your hope is to have it in case you need it and I think the facts and circumstances of this situation lend to that analysis. I think that this was a circumstance where a fight broke out. I do believe that [Valle] felt that he was in danger. I believe he felt that his friends were in danger, and therefore those were the decisions that he made. And, you know, knife or not, that was that." Self-defense Claim In Austin Metcalf Slaying Is 'Uphill Battle': Expert The jury was deadlocked at 11-1 on Monday and Tuesday before deliberations continued Wednesday morning, as NBC Connecticut reported. Valle testified during the trial, claiming the stabbing was self-defense. "I think those stories are very compelling for jurors. I think jurors really try to get it right," Rotunno told Fox News Digital on Tuesday, before the jury reached the verdict. "Obviously, there are some cases where maybe that analysis doesn't fit or somebody makes the claim of self-defense [and] it doesn't make sense under the law. But … given the way this jury has been out now for a couple of days, and they're clearly deadlocked … [defense attorneys] have made a compelling argument to at least one or some." She added that any time a defendant asserts self-defense, "the burden shifts to you to show that … you were in reasonable fear." Valle took the witness stand in his own defense last week, which Rotunno said is "almost necessary" in cases like his. Austin Metcalf's Suspected Killer Indicted On First-degree Murder Charge In Track Meet Stabbing Valle attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull near Fairfield Prep, where McGrath was a junior. Both had been at a house party on the evening of May 14, 2022 that involved a fight and underage drinking prior to the stabbing, which occurred at another house party later that night. Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a fight that occurred just before midnight on May 14, 2022 outside a residence on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton and found multiple victims on the front lawn. The owner of the residence where the party took place was home at the time of the incident, according to a warrant. At one point, there were about 25 people engaged in the fight on the front lawn of the home, witnesses told police. At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who is suspected of having a knife. McGrath had "one stab wound to the left side of the chest," the warrant states. "The stab wound went through the rib and heart." Connecticut Teen To Stand Trial For Prep School Athlete's Murder That Has 'Shaken' Parents, Schools: Attorney A doctor from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Connecticut told police that there were approximately 1.8 liters of blood in McGrath's lungs. During his emotional testimony, Valle said he never intended to kill anyone that evening. He said a friend handed him the knife during a large fight involving dozens of teenagers who surrounded him. He alleged that at one point during the fight, he lost consciousness. Valle further said he was swinging the knife in all directions and felt overwhelmed, according to Court TV. "So I think that it's very difficult in a self-defense case for a jury to not hear from the defendant," Rotunno explained. "Sometimes, you can establish it through other witnesses, but if you have a defendant that can take the stand, and you have somebody who … is going to do a good job telling the jury what happened, I almost think it's necessary in these cases." Rotunno said that "in a melee, you have to remember, you're talking about split-second situations." She noted that at one point during his testimony, Valle was asked whether someone next to him was coming directly at him during the fight, to which he responded that he could not remember. Rachel Morin Murder: Illegal Immigrant Suspect Denied Ever Being In Maryland At Time Of Crime "I think that for the defense, the best piece of information is just the fact that this is a total fight. You have no idea who's coming at you. You don't know what's going to happen to you. You're in fear, and you act," she said. "And in any circumstance, I understand that the prosecution is going to say, he brought this knife to a fist fight, right? … But just because you have a weapon on you doesn't mean that there was an intent to use it. And if you're not the aggressor, it doesn't mean you don't have a right to then defend yourself." If the jury does not come to an agreement, the judge may declare a mistrial. That could result in the case going "back to square one," Rotunno said. The defense could also argue for Valle's release in the case of a mistrial. A representative from St. Joseph told Fox News Digital in 2022 that Valle had been in good academic standing and had not been in any fights at school before the May 14 incident. Valle was released on $2 million bond just days after his arrest in May 2022. An obituary for McGrath described the 17-year-old as the "sunshine" of his parents' life and his sister's "best friend and confidant." "Many described Jim as a wonderfully happy person with a big heart who was a loving friend to many," the obituary states. "He loved his school, Fairfield Prep, and he excelled as an athlete in every sport he chose. He played football and lacrosse for Fairfield Prep and as a youth for Shelton and Connecticut Wolves as well. He understood the meaning of being part of a team."Original article source: Prep school lacrosse player's accused killer found not guilty of murder
