BREAKING NEWS ' PAUL GASCOIGNE CHARGED OVER RACIAL '

2 CPS SAY NO, 3RD CPS SAYS CHARGE GASCOIGNE

BREAKING NEWS ' PAUL GASCOIGNE CHARGED OVER RACIAL '

Express

Saturday June 4, 2016



Paul Gascoigne charged over racial 'joke' at Wolverhampton Civic Hall show


The former England midfielder remarked during ‘An Evening with Gazza’ that he couldn’t tell if a black security guard in a darkened corner of the stage was ‘smiling or not’.

The Crown Prosecution Service, who had initially decided not to prosecute Gascoigne, have now decided he is to be charged.




Paul Gascoigne is set to be charged over a racial ‘joke’ he made in Wolverhampton after a dramatic U-turn by prosecutors, the Express & Star can reveal today.


The troubled star has been summoned to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on June 17 when he will be formally charged with the alleged offence.

The shock news comes after a last minute U-turn by the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS) who had initially decided that he should not be prosecuted over the incident. It was the second change of mind by lawyers involved with the case.

The CPS officially informed Gazza of the decision not to take him to court just over a month ago but his manager has now been told of the change of mind in a phone call.



It came after a third CPS lawyer was asked to consider the case under rules which allow a victim or complainant to seek a review of a decision not to charge. As a result it was ruled that the previous decision was incorrect and there should be a prosecution. The internal review considered exactly the same evidence.

It is understood that a West Midlands CPS lawyer had originally recommended prosecution but this was reversed after the finding went for a second opinion by another CPS lawyer in London because a public figure was involved.

Lawyers have spent months considering information collected during a West Midlands Police investigation into a complaint about the star’s conduct during the ‘Evening With Gazza’ show at the Civic Hall on November 30 last year.


Gazza Wolverhampton hate crime probe: Lawyers to decide if Paul Gascoigne should be charged over 'black joke'
Paul Gascoigne at Wolverhampton Civic: Hate crime investigation launched after Gazza makes 'racist joke'
It is believed to have concentrated on a ‘joke’ the former England football star made during the show about a black security guard whom he spotted in a darkened corner of the stage and said he could not tell ‘if he is smiling or not.’

Witnesses reported that the comment was met with an audible gasp by the audience, although it was not clear whether the security guard heard the remark at the time.

Neither the victim nor the complainant has been identified, although the security guard targeted in the joke is understood to have been at the show as protection for Gazza.

The CPS confirmed the change of mind and Gascoigne’s agent, Terry Baker - who had initially spoken of their relief at the decision to drop the case - said today he had no comment to make on the latest development.

In April Gazza insisted during a TV interview that he was ‘back to his best after two-day blip’ in his struggle with alcoholism. In March he had been photographed clutching a bottle of gin and being escorted by a police officer in his home town of Poole, Dorset.

Later, more photographs emerged of the ex-Wolves trialist, showing cuts and bruising to his nose, lip and forehead. Gazza, who has had a drink problem for more than 20 years, later said that the relapse was a ‘blip’.

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What was the joke ?

What was the joke ?

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne is to be formally charged for a ‘joke’ he made during a show a show in Wolverhampton.
The former England midfielder remarked during ‘An Evening with Gazza’ that he couldn’t tell if a black security guard in a darkened corner of the stage was ‘smiling or not’.

The Crown Prosecution Service, who had initially decided not to prosecute Gascoigne, have now decided he is to be charged.

What a total waste of tax payers money prosecuting him! Every comic must be wondering if they will get prosecuted if say wrong thing in future !!

Spot on Alan its pathetic !!

The former England midfielder remarked during ‘An Evening with Gazza’ that he couldn’t tell if a black security guard in a darkened corner of the stage was ‘smiling or not’.

How the hell is that a racist comment said in a banter type way, not hatefull - oh come on CPS, you are becoming a joke yourselves.

Next you will be telling me that the one about a blackman crossing a zebra crossing shouting "now ya see me now ya don't" is racist?

what about a whiteman crossing a zebra crossing shouting "now ya see me now ya don't"? would that go before the CPS?

I understand if something is said in hate but FFS how many Irish, Welsh, Scottish, English, etc, etc are just banter.

The worlds gone mad with the PC brigade.

Blooobirds Forever !!!

Farcical and a waste of tax payers money.

It's depressing that people don't get the reasons why the CPS would take the action they did. Why can't posters imagine themselves in the shoes of the security guard? Wouldn't they feel humiliated?

Gazza's joke was from my father's era, and out of step with contemporary society. He'll probably get fine, but he and others need to know that this sort of stuff can't be tolerated

What most people fail to understand about hate laws is how they work. If the room was full of white supremacists then it is highly unlikely anyone could bring charges on the grounds of being offended, as seen in the Nick Griffin trail a few years ago.

However, it there was one black person who was within earshot and heard the remark and felt it was offensive then that would be enough for the remark to become a criminal offence.

In theory an Englishman making a joke about a Welshman in earshot of a Welshman and which had enough content to be considered 'offensive' then a criminal offence has potentially occurred if the Welshman took offence and felt humiliated.

Trouble is most white English, Welsh, Irish and Scots have grown up with such banter and simply wouldn't think it a problem.

Due to historical problems from the 1950's onwards many Black, Jewish, Muslim and other minorities have been subject to direct discrimination or hate crime. Over the past 20 years this has decreased massively mainly due to a zero tolerant approach which means that things can get blown out of proportion especially when there is a sniff of huge compensation payments lying around.

This matter could have been better handled with a public apology and a donation by Gaza to a charity of the claimants choice.

While it is a bit of an odd thing to say and like something from the 1970s I hardly think it's something he should be charged for.

It's depressing that people don't get the reasons why the CPS would take the action they did. Why can't posters imagine themselves in the shoes of the security guard? Wouldn't they feel humiliated?

Gazza's joke was from my father's era, and out of step with contemporary society. He'll probably get fine, but he and others need to know that this sort of stuff can't be tolerated

The courts would be overrun if every bit of humiliation was considered a hate crime. Whilst I wouldn't have said those words I certainly would-not expect anyone who did to be charged with a hate crime.

Personally for a criminal offense to exist I would add a layer of 'intent' then we wouldn't have nonsense like this.

It's depressing that people don't get the reasons why the CPS would take the action they did. Why can't posters imagine themselves in the shoes of the security guard? Wouldn't they feel humiliated?

Gazza's joke was from my father's era, and out of step with contemporary society. He'll probably get fine, but he and others need to know that this sort of stuff can't be tolerated

I totally agree.

But this isn't "evil racism", it is just some alcoholic coming out with an "unintelligent comment".
"Racism is unintelligent! But not all unintelligence is racist!"

If you want to see true racism, move to Saudi Arabia, when in their legal system a non male muslim has legally less rights, it is a system on the same level as South Africa of the past.

The Security Guard could have grown some balls, and taken Gazza to task over this, I agree that he shouldn't tolerate this. Playing the weak victim is not the solution. Today's generation is all about "being offended" or "being the victim".

The solution is to stand up to the idiots, not to hide behind political correctness!