The trial was never going to be today anyway, this was the arraignment.
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=48528.msg1475602#msg1475602 date=1328110442]
[quote author=Richey link=topic=48528.msg1475545#msg1475545 date=1328106764]
Does that normally happen? That Woodgate/Bowyer trial was during the season wasn't it? I can't think of many others off hand
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No idea mate. It seems quite unusual to me.
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Today was the arraignment, where he gets his opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty. He's in the District Court so they'd do a bunch of them all in a list. Anyone who pleads guilty could be sentenced there and then. Anyone who opts for a trial will be asked to return on the trial date.
It's not unusual for convenient trial dates to be set in the District Court, but putting it back so long kinda makes the District Court system redundant - the whole idea is it can deal quickly with minor offences. His fame/position guaranteed him a bit of leeway there which he wouldn't have gotten in a higher court - like when Gerrard was brought before a higher court a couple of years ago. But then the opposite of that is that I'm pretty certain the fact a jury made the decision weighed heavily in Gerrard's favour. As it would with Terry, but he won't be in front of a jury. Just a judge.