May 10th 2024.
Former NRL star George Burgess was recently acquitted of charges that he sexually assaulted a woman during a visit to her home. The incident, which allegedly occurred in March of 2022, was brought to court where Burgess was found not guilty on Friday. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed that the rugby league player touched her inappropriately and made inappropriate comments about her body.
According to reports, Burgess had gone to the woman's home to give her a signed jersey from his former team, St George Illawarra. However, the woman accused him of trying to kiss her and have sex with her, even though they had known each other for over a decade. Burgess denied these claims, stating that he only wanted to be intimate with her.
During the trial, it was revealed that Burgess was not present in the courtroom, but instead appeared via a livestream. The woman, who was present in the courtroom, shook her head and burst into tears when the verdict was announced. She even questioned Burgess' actions, asking "what have you done to women?" to the magistrate.
Although the magistrate did not fully believe Burgess' account of the events, she ultimately acquitted him of the charges. She stated that she did not find enough evidence to prove that Burgess had touched the woman without her consent.
The court had previously heard that Burgess had attempted to kiss the woman multiple times, but she had evaded his advances. Burgess admitted to placing his hand on her lower back while she made tea in the kitchen, but denied ever touching her buttocks. He also said that he had asked the woman to cuddle and "be naughty" with him, but denied any further inappropriate actions.
After noticing that the woman was uncomfortable, Burgess left her apartment and went home. However, the next day he received a Snapchat message from the woman accusing him of sexual assault and groping. Burgess retired from rugby league in November of 2022 after playing for various teams including South Sydney, Wigan Warriors, and St George Illawarra. He has a total of 153 NRL games under his belt and has played 15 tests for England.
In light of the recent verdict, it is important to remember that sexual assault and harassment are serious issues that should never be taken lightly. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, please seek help from organizations such as 1800 RESPECT and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service. Let's work towards creating a safe and respectful society for all.
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