Mark Vermeulen cleared of arson

by Henry Thu 31 Jan 2008, 11:27

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23140757-23212,00.html

I'm relieved, and he must be too. I'm actually quite surprised that he has been found not guilty on the basis of his mental health at the time. Didn't think they were so reasonable in Zimbabwe these days. There may well have been some $$$$ under the table from the Vermuelen camp to help get this verdict.

by Red Thu 31 Jan 2008, 11:47

Apparently he has a rich family.

by lardbucket Thu 31 Jan 2008, 11:48

He did.

by mynah Thu 31 Jan 2008, 11:55

Apparently Zimbabwe has a pretty good legal system - when the government isn't interfering with it, that is. Of course, if Mugabe isn't happy with the outcome of a case, being cleared doesn't help you much.

by DJ_Smerk Thu 31 Jan 2008, 11:56

There's no smoke without fire. Obviously Vermeulen put this to the test!

by mynah Thu 31 Jan 2008, 12:04

From Cricinfo:

The former Zimbabwe batsman, who already had a reputation for eccentric behaviour, was hit with a one-year ban after a much-publicised brawl which followed him chucking a metal boundary marker at a spectator in a Lancashire league match. Within months he had confirmed all was not well by burning down Zimbabwe's cricket academy and twice banging on the gates of Robert Mugabe's presidential palace demanding to speak to the great man.

Surely the last line or two holds the clue to the judge's decision that the guy was stark raving bonkers? scratch

by taipan Thu 31 Jan 2008, 12:08

mynah wrote:From Cricinfo:

The former Zimbabwe batsman, who already had a reputation for eccentric behaviour, was hit with a one-year ban after a much-publicised brawl which followed him chucking a metal boundary marker at a spectator in a Lancashire league match. Within months he had confirmed all was not well by burning down Zimbabwe's cricket academy and twice banging on the gates of Robert Mugabe's presidential palace demanding to speak to the great man.

Surely the last line or two holds the clue to the judge's decision that the guy was stark raving bonkers?

No, the last two words do.