Mervyn Westfield launches appeal against spot-fixing conviction – Cricket News Update
Former Essex pacer Mervyn Westfield, who was jailed earlier this year on grounds of spot-fixing charges, has expressed the intent to launch a challenge against his conviction.
His case is scheduled to be heard at the Court of Appeal in London, by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with Mr. Justice Openshaw and Mr. Justice Irwin.
The 24-year-old was sentenced to four months in prison at the Old Bailey after his trial in February this year, when he pleaded guilty to having accepted 6,000 pounds to bowl in a way which would allow the scoring of a set amount of runs (12) during the first over of a Pro-40 match between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 in September 2009.
“I am satisfied that you would have known from the outset that what was being offered was a corrupt payment and that you could and should have refused it,” said Judge Anthony Morris while passing sentence.
“I am also satisfied that, if you had any concerns about the approaches being made to you, you had an opportunity to mention them to the team captain or management, or if you were nervous of doing so, at least to your friends within the team. You chose not to do so.”
The case had come to light when Westfield’s Essex teammate, Tony Palladino, went to the young pacer’s flat where he was shown the money and told that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 (their then-teammate) had a “friend” who would pay them to concede a set amount of runs.
In defence of his client, Westfield’s lawyer pointed out that the young bowler had been “on the verge of the squad, more susceptible for that reason.” Kaneria was named by Westfield’s lawyer as the middle-man who had allegedly received 4000 pounds for having set up the deal, but lack of evidence against him allowed him go unscathed.
However, after Westfield was released in April, having served half of his term, the ECB issued a summons to both Westfield and Kaneria for a disciplinary hearing in regards to their “alleged breaches of the ECB's anti-corruption directives.” The hearing, originally scheduled to take place this month, has been postponed on request of Kaneria’s lawyers.
Tags: