A 3rd woman who joined 5 Sydney Swans players in a Melbourne hotel room on Monday morning is exploring legal action, along with her lawyer saying she is navigating “an incredibly traumatic experience”.
Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon have been stood down for the remainder of the AFL season by the Swans this week for breaching the membership’s requirements, including drinking and bringing women back to their hotel after Sunday’s win over Essendon in Melbourne.
Victoria police stated in an announcement on Saturday they’re persevering with to analyze an alleged sexual assault early on Monday morning on the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne, the place the Sydney Swans have been staying. None of the 5 Swans players have been arrested or charged and there’s a lot element in regards to the allegations and its hyperlinks to the crew that is still unknown.
The Sydney Swans stated on Saturday the membership “supports the action taken by Victoria police in releasing today’s statement regarding the investigation”.
“The Sydney Swans categorically confirms that no member of staff is involved in the investigation,” the membership stated. “This includes being in the hotel room central to the police investigation. The club reiterates that no player has been interviewed by police at this stage.”
One of the ladies who joined 5 Swans players on the hotel in East Melbourne has engaged Slater and Gordon Lawyers and can discover lodging a civil declare, whereas Carbone Lawyers will reportedly characterize two different girls who have been additionally in the room.
“Our client has had her entire world turned upside down and is now trying to navigate an incredibly traumatic experience,” Slater and Gordon senior lawyer Jackson Pannam stated on Saturday.
Pannam stated his shopper was the person who contacted Victoria police instantly after the alleged sexual assault, and was persevering with to talk with police for his or her investigations.
Any civil declare can be separate to any felony proceedings.
“Everyone deserves to be safe going about their life, at home, at work, and in public spaces without risk of being assaulted or harmed,” Pannam stated.
“We’re standing with our client to give her support at this difficult time, and to help her get the justice she deserves.”
Pannam advised Guardian Australia it was “very early days” as his shopper explores a possible civil declare.
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The lawyer representing two different girls who joined the Swans players in the Melbourne hotel room advised Nine newspapers on Friday the ladies would launch legal proceedings to assert damages for ache and struggling, psychological harm and financial loss.
“We are currently investigating the circumstances and preparing to commence legal proceedings against the club and potentially the individuals involved,” Manny Carbone, a companion at Carbone Lawyers, stated.
“Our clients are extremely traumatised and feel that their dignity and personal rights have been seriously violated by the events of Monday.”
The 5 players apologised in relation to the membership sanctions in a joint assertion issued by the Swans on Wednesday night. “We are deeply sorry to everyone involved,” they stated. “We know that our behaviour has fallen well short of the standards expected of us and the values of our club.”