Ferland Trial

[sureLoss]

Jenna McMurray @SunJMac
Calgary Flames prospect Michael Ferland has been acquitted of assault and aggravated assault #yyc

The twitter account appears to be legit, as members of the Calgary sports media is following it.

[Roof-Daddy]

Good for you Michael.

Now keep training your arse off so you can pick up where you left off last season before getting injured.

[Drury18]

Herald Court Reporter also confirming the acquittal:

Daryl Slade ‏@heraldcourt 4m
A small smile crept across Calgary Flames' prospect Michael Ferland's face when jury acquitted him of assault on 2 men outside Cochrane bar.

Edit: Jury finds he acted in self-defence:

Kevin Martin ‏@SUNKevinMartin 3m
Jury acquits Calgary Flames' prospect Michael Ferland ruling he acted in self-defence when he knocked out patron outside Cochrane bar.

[djsFlames]

Now let him focus on finally becoming the player us fans hope he can be.

[saXon]

Good riddance to the lawsuit. The plaintiff can find a job and start to earn that $250 k he so desperately was looking for. Might I suggest Starbucks? I hear they make tips.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Jenna McMurray @SunJMac
Calgary Flames prospect Michael Ferland has been acquitted of assault and aggravated assault #yyc

The twitter account appears to be legit, as members of the Calgary sports media is following it.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Awesome news. This kid is such an intriguing prospect. So excited for him.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by fotze

This calls for celebratory drinks at the bar.

I'll throw the first punch!!!

[Pliddy]

First and foremost I am happy for Ferland and I hope he takes this as a learning opportunity. 2nd I am angry as a taxpayer and a citizen that this was allowed to go this far, this was a bar fight- happens everyday and rarely results in charges and NEVER results in charges when a complainant discloses to a police member on scene AND a paramedic that he is " not exactly innocent". The moron Crown Prosecutor should have to pay for this waste of time personally. I hope at the very least they are embarrassed enough to not do this again

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Pliddy

First and foremost I am happy for Ferland and I hope he takes this as a learning opportunity. 2nd I am angry as a taxpayer and a citizen that this was allowed to go this far, this was a bar fight- happens everyday and rarely results in charges and NEVER results in charges when a complainant discloses to a police member on scene AND a paramedic that he is " not exactly innocent". The moron Crown Prosecutor should have to pay for this waste of time personally. I hope at the very least they are embarrassed enough to not do this again

Likely the crown was more afraid to dismiss due to notoriety. Just as many people would be annoyed in that situation. The system worked. Time to let it go.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Pliddy

First and foremost I am happy for Ferland and I hope he takes this as a learning opportunity. 2nd I am angry as a taxpayer and a citizen that this was allowed to go this far, this was a bar fight- happens everyday and rarely results in charges and NEVER results in charges when a complainant discloses to a police member on scene AND a paramedic that he is " not exactly innocent". The moron Crown Prosecutor should have to pay for this waste of time personally. I hope at the very least they are embarrassed enough to not do this again

This thing wouldn't even get to a trial if it wasn't for Eyma's friend pointing Michael Ferland's picture from the newspaper. The guy probably says hmmmm.. hockey player and just signed a contract. He figures he can get some money off him probably. Good on Ferland and I am sure he will learn from this. He is now a public figure so everything that he does will be scrutinize.

[dustygoon]

Brass can't be happy that he was mixed up in this in the first place, but he is cleared and probably had the crap scared out of him.

I hope they take him under their wings and help get him focused.

Ferland is the most interesting prospect in my mind outside of Gaudreau.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by saXon

Good riddance to the lawsuit. The plaintiff can find a job and start to earn that $250 k he so desperately was looking for. Might I suggest Starbucks? I hear they make tips.

The burden of proof in a civil suit is far lower than in a criminal trial.

That said, the fact that the jury supported Ferland's claim of self defence won't help that lawsuit's chances at all, imo.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by Pliddy

First and foremost I am happy for Ferland and I hope he takes this as a learning opportunity. 2nd I am angry as a taxpayer and a citizen that this was allowed to go this far, this was a bar fight- happens everyday and rarely results in charges and NEVER results in charges when a complainant discloses to a police member on scene AND a paramedic that he is " not exactly innocent". The moron Crown Prosecutor should have to pay for this waste of time personally. I hope at the very least they are embarrassed enough to not do this again

How many of those bar fights result in the 'victim' making a complaint and having witnesses come forward to support his claims?

Was the prosecutor supposed to tell the plantiff to eff off because Ferland is a Flames prospect and other guys get into bar fights.

He was presented a case where the claim was that a guy got sucker punched and had physical harm done to him and had witnesses to back it up. That is a crime in Canada.

I know people are mad that a Flames prospect got charged in this but it seems odd to direct your anger towards the prosecutor and not the guy who brought the complaint or the guy who threw the punch at the plantiff.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Read Only

How many of those bar fights result in the 'victim' making a complaint and having witnesses come forward to support his claims?

Was the prosecutor supposed to tell the plantiff to eff off because Ferland is a Flames prospect and other guys get into bar fights.

He was presented a case where the claim was that a guy got sucker punched and had physical harm done to him and had witnesses to back it up. That is a crime in Canada.

I know people are mad that a Flames prospect got charged in this but it seems odd to direct your anger towards the prosecutor and not the guy who brought the complaint or the guy who threw the punch at the plantiff.

Just maybe the prosecutor should have done his job and checked the facts BEFORE bringing a charge. All he really needed was to read the cops report, call back the plaintiff and ask if that was his statement and then refuse to file the charge.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I'll throw the first punch!!!

Will there be alcohol in it, or will it be boring fruit punch?

[Pliddy]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Just maybe the prosecutor should have done his job and checked the facts BEFORE bringing a charge. All he really needed was to read the cops report, call back the plaintiff and ask if that was his statement and then refuse to file the charge.

My point exactly, a copy of the officers notes would have been available to the crown, and they were pretty compelling. I have just a big of problem with the Crown going after Ferland because he is a Flames Prospect, as I would if he was being protected because he was a prospect- You can't suck and blow and each one is wrong and I don't think it is unreasonable to expect our judicial system to be impartial and prosecute based on facts and evidence and not on name

[Read Only]

Is there evidence/comments that the Prosecutor went after Ferland because he is a Flames prospect and/or didn't look at police reports and the plaintiffs comments?

That seems like a pretty serious accusation that would result in discipline if it is so obvious that is the reason the prosecutor went ahead with the case.

[sureLoss]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/07/28...-files-lawsuit

Calgary Flames’ prospect Michael Ferland has filed a $90,000 counterclaim against the man he was acquitted of assaulting outside a Cochrane bar.

In court documents filed at Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench, Ferland says that not only is he not liable for the injuries suffered by Jayson Eyma, but is the victim of malicious prosecution.

A lawyer for Eyma filed a statement of claim June 9, the same day the plaintiff took the stand in Ferland’s jury trial, seeking damages of $250,000 for injuries he suffered in a July 29, 2012 incident.

The counterclaim alleges that following the incident, and learning Ferland was a professional hockey player, Eyma decided to pursue charges against the Flames’ prospect in order to get money.

“By his actions, statements and conduct subsequent to the assault, Eyma manipulated the criminal justice system for this improper and malicious purpose,” the counterclaim says.

[gilligans_off]

Good on him for going after the guy. These kind of people are gold diggers and should be held responsible for wrong doing.