paulhackett
voiced by strother martin
Has anyone else been following this? I know we can't comment quite yet, but as the judge is finishing his summing up..
As the defence of each appears to be to blame the others, it seems unlikely, whatever the outcome, that the 3 will ever play in the same team again?
The prosecution summary involved 13 facts
"Fact number one: There is an old adage. There is no legitimate reason to bowl a no-ball.
"Fact two: Since May 2010, Butt receives texts from Mazhar Majeed and participated in phone conversations with Majeed on matters of fixing. Leave aside whether this is a "joke" or a "tester". He participated in conversations about corruption.
"Fact three: At 11pm on August 25 at the Copthorne Hotel, Majeed told (journalist Mazhar) Mahmood that on the following day these no-balls will happen. Mohammad Amir will bowl a no-ball on the first ball of the third over. He said Asif will bowl a no-ball on the sixth ball of the tenth over. He said Amir will bowl a further no-ball when he bowls round the wicket to the right-hander (Jonathan) Trott. He said the captain is in on it.
"Fact four: Due to adverse weather conditions the third no-ball was unable to be bowled.
"Fact five: Mohammad Amir was the least experienced and youngest one to bowl.
"Fact six: On the first ball of the third over, Mohammad Amir delivers a massive no-ball.
"Fact seven: Mohammad Asif is older and more experienced.
"Fact eight: Mohammad Asif bowls a clear no-ball on the sixth ball of the tenth over.
"Fact nine: (Statistician and prosecution witness David) Kendix has told us that there is nothing in the bowling history or pattern which would enable anyone to predict this would happen.
"Fact ten: On August 26 at 22.11, Majeed told Mahmood that the remaining no-ball will take place on Mohammad Amir's third full over (the next day) on the third ball.
"Fact 11: On August 27 Mohammad Amir is bowling with deadly accuracy and deadly control, the complete antipathies to bowing a no-ball.
"Fact 12: Just before that glaring no-ball, Amir is in conversation with Butt.
"Fact 13: Mohammad Amir bowls another no-ball.
Jafferjee continued, looking at the jury: "These are facts. Ask yourself, against that plain background, who needs to lie in this case? Majeed? Mahmood? Or Butt and Asif? People who commit offences and who are caught and brought to trial have a choice. They can either plead guilty, and get credit for pleading guilty, or they can plead not guilty," adding that those pleading not guilty either believe they have been wrongly charged or they are "trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a jury".
"In this case we have two defendants effectively turning on each other with a view to wriggle out of what each other has done."
The judge stated yesterday "You can proceed on the basis that Majeed and Amir were involved in the spot-fixing at Lord's, as all parties agree that is the case, but don't be concerned by their absence from this trial."
As the defence of each appears to be to blame the others, it seems unlikely, whatever the outcome, that the 3 will ever play in the same team again?
The prosecution summary involved 13 facts
"Fact number one: There is an old adage. There is no legitimate reason to bowl a no-ball.
"Fact two: Since May 2010, Butt receives texts from Mazhar Majeed and participated in phone conversations with Majeed on matters of fixing. Leave aside whether this is a "joke" or a "tester". He participated in conversations about corruption.
"Fact three: At 11pm on August 25 at the Copthorne Hotel, Majeed told (journalist Mazhar) Mahmood that on the following day these no-balls will happen. Mohammad Amir will bowl a no-ball on the first ball of the third over. He said Asif will bowl a no-ball on the sixth ball of the tenth over. He said Amir will bowl a further no-ball when he bowls round the wicket to the right-hander (Jonathan) Trott. He said the captain is in on it.
"Fact four: Due to adverse weather conditions the third no-ball was unable to be bowled.
"Fact five: Mohammad Amir was the least experienced and youngest one to bowl.
"Fact six: On the first ball of the third over, Mohammad Amir delivers a massive no-ball.
"Fact seven: Mohammad Asif is older and more experienced.
"Fact eight: Mohammad Asif bowls a clear no-ball on the sixth ball of the tenth over.
"Fact nine: (Statistician and prosecution witness David) Kendix has told us that there is nothing in the bowling history or pattern which would enable anyone to predict this would happen.
"Fact ten: On August 26 at 22.11, Majeed told Mahmood that the remaining no-ball will take place on Mohammad Amir's third full over (the next day) on the third ball.
"Fact 11: On August 27 Mohammad Amir is bowling with deadly accuracy and deadly control, the complete antipathies to bowing a no-ball.
"Fact 12: Just before that glaring no-ball, Amir is in conversation with Butt.
"Fact 13: Mohammad Amir bowls another no-ball.
Jafferjee continued, looking at the jury: "These are facts. Ask yourself, against that plain background, who needs to lie in this case? Majeed? Mahmood? Or Butt and Asif? People who commit offences and who are caught and brought to trial have a choice. They can either plead guilty, and get credit for pleading guilty, or they can plead not guilty," adding that those pleading not guilty either believe they have been wrongly charged or they are "trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a jury".
"In this case we have two defendants effectively turning on each other with a view to wriggle out of what each other has done."
The judge stated yesterday "You can proceed on the basis that Majeed and Amir were involved in the spot-fixing at Lord's, as all parties agree that is the case, but don't be concerned by their absence from this trial."
