Extortion charge against former Richmond player Jake King dropped as magistrate draws on Australian cricket scandal
FORMER Richmond player Jake King has had his extortion charge dropped after a magistrate cited the Australian cricket ball tampering scandal in court today.
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FORMER Richmond player Jake King has had his extortion charge dropped after a magistrate cited the Australian cricket ball tampering scandal in court today.
The fallen Tigers favourite known as “the push-up king” will admit to possessing steroids and a making a threat to inflict serious injury, his lawyer said at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Dermot Dann QC said King would formally enter a guilty plea next month to possessing testosterone and making the threat to cause injury, after police withdrew a host of more serious charges.
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The charges relate to a $150,000 debt and business dispute involving King’s former teammate Tyrone Vickery.
Magistrate Carolyn Burnside said there were extenuating circumstances involved in the offending — and cited the recent furore surrounding the Australian cricket team.
“There are extenuating circumstances.... (I) recognise that some people will stray from the path of goodness. Look at Steve Smith, for example.... that’s human nature,” Ms Burnside said.
King was accused of threatening to shoot a man and breaking his legs over the $150,000 debt.
King has previously tried to hide the nature of the charges, claiming he feared losing his job if they were made public.
Charges formally withdrawn by police include extortion, making a threat to kill and another count of threatening to inflict serious injury, and using a carriage service to harass.
It is understood King met Tony Mokdissi — the business partner of King’s ex-business partner Ty Vickery — in the foyer of Crown Casino allegedly in a bid to retrieve the $150,000 debt.
Revealed: Details on Tyrone Vickery, Jake King after face off at Crown Casino
Revealed: Details on Tyrone Vickery, Jake King after face off at Crown Casino
Mr Mokdissi is named as one of several victims in charge previously released sheets released publicly.
They alleged King made the violent threats at Southbank on May 29 in an attempt to scare Mr Mokdissi into paying up.
King was arrested on July 5 over the extortion claims and released on bail.
The matter will return to court for a formal plea hearing next month, when King is expected to produce 30 references.