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February 1st, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda - Trial adjourned until July 9, one week after the European Championship final
- Terry’s barrister enters not-guilty plea on the player’s behalf
- Judge says the England captain will receive ‘no special treatment’
By
Chris Greenwood and Damien Gayle
Last updated at 3:00 PM on 1st February 2012
England football captain John Terry denies racially abusing Anton Ferdinand and will stand trial for the offence after the conclusion of the European Championships, a court heard today.
The trial will take place one week after July’s European Championship final – meaning the FA is almost certain not to take a decision on the England captain’s future until the conclusion of the case.
The player did not attend the short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, but his barrister, George Carter-Stephenson QC, entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
Race row: John Terry (right, in the black shirt) is accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand (centre left). He denies any wrong-doing
Terry, 31, is accused of a
racially-aggravated public order for allegedly shouting an offensive
comment Ferdinand as Chelsea took on west London rivals Queens Park
Rangers on October 23rd last year.
The player is to stand trial in July and the hearing – in front of a district judge only – is expected to last up to five days.
Mr Carter-Stephenson said: ‘Mr Terry has never and would never racially abuse another player.’
Ferdinand, who told officers he did not hear the alleged comments, is expected to give evidence during the trial.
Terry is also said to be relying on a discussion in the changing room regarding the incident as part of his defence.
Family man: John Terry with wife Toni
Tony Connell, prosecuting, said a lip-reader will be called, and clips uploaded on to YouTube will be relied on by the Crown.
Terry, who claims he has campaigned
against racism, will face a five-day trial, starting on July 9th, after
the close of the English football season and after any international
commitments as part of Euro 2012 have been concluded.
However, District Judge Howard Riddle
said he wanted to ensure Terry received ‘no special treatment’ during
the course of proceedings.
Judge Riddle said: ‘Everybody who
faces trial has some considerable difficulty attending trial, when there
are other obligations.
‘In this case sporting, in other cases, professional, and indeed for everybody there’s some difficulty.
‘I am informed that there are,
potentially at least, a large numner of people, particularly witnesses
to events last October, likely to be called to give evidence at trial.
‘I have a letter from the chief
executive of Chelsea Football Club is to the great difficulty to the
club and for the employees of the club, if this case is fixed within the
normal period of time.’
There was anger last month after it
emerged that John Terry will be allowed to continue as England captain,
despite being told that he must appear in court to answer the charge of
using racist language on the field.
To the fury of anti-racism
campaigners, top officials at the Football Association stayed silent
after the footballer was formally summonsed over his outburst against
Ferdinand.
There was anger last month after it emerged that Terry will be allowed to
continue as England captain, despite being told that he must appear in
court to answer the charge of using racist language on
the field.
To the fury of anti-racism
campaigners, top officials at the Football Association stayed silent
after the footballer was formally summonsed over his outburst
against Ferdinand.
The multi-millionaire defender also continued to enjoy the backing of his club, Chelsea.
A spokesman for campaigning group Hope Not Hate said at the time: ‘It seems
incredible that John Terry can continue as England captain while this
charge is hanging over him.
‘Most members of an organisation facing similar charges would find
themselves suspended until the matter is resolved. He is not even facing
a football-related matter – this is a serious criminal charge which has
attracted a huge amount of attention.’
Accused: Chelsea defender John Terry, right, in training. Left is his manager Andre Villa-Boas who said he was supporting him
Today’s hearing came less than a week
after Ferdinand was spared from having to shake Terry’s hand before an
FA Cup clash between Chelsea and QPR.
The Football Association gave the
clubs permission not to take part in the traditional pre-match
handshake, amid uncertainty as to whether Rangers defender Ferdinand
would snub Terry.
It
was the first time the two sides have met since Terry was charged with
racially abusing Ferdinand during October`s Premier League game between
them.
Terry learned of the charges at the end of a damp training session at Chelsea’s
training ground near Cobham, Surrey, last month.
Prosecutors decided there was enough evidence of the incident last October, including TV images of
the incident that were beamed around the world, to put him on trial.
He is accused of calling Ferdinand a ‘f****** black ****’ during the match at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium.
But afterwards he told Ferdinand, whose brother Rio plays alongside
Terry for England, that the remarks had been taken out of context,
insisting he actually said: ‘Oi, Anton, do you think I called you a
black ****?’
Controversy: John Terry denies racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, brother of Rio, during the match at Loftus Road, west London, in October
The maximum punishment Terry faces if found guilty is a £2,500 fine, a sum he earns in
just two hours and 38 minutes on his £160,000-a-week salary.
Terry, 31, has said he was ‘disappointed’ with the decision to charge him and
that he hoped to clear his name ‘as quickly as possible’.
He said: ‘I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my closest friends.
‘I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence. I have campaigned
against racism and believe there is no place for it in society.’
England manager Fabio Capello has kept Terry as England captain despite
the racism claims and said the defender should be presumed to be
innocent until proven guilty.
Terry, a married father of two, has lost the captaincy once before, in
2010, after claims that he had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of his
England team-mate Wayne Bridge, but regained it earlier this year.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said: ‘The only thing I know is that I
will be fully supportive of John Terry, whatever the outcome. He has my
full support, he has the club’s full support. We know exactly his human
values and personality. They are never in doubt.’
Terry was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence,
accusing him of causing someone ‘harassment, alarm or distress’ under
the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Alison Saunders, of the Crown Prosecution Service, last month said the decision was
made after ‘careful consideration of the evidence’ and was in the
public interest.
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