Ben Cousins on driving charge * Wayne Flower
* From: Herald Sun
* October 20, 2009
BEN Cousins could be appearing in a Melbourne magistrates' court less than a year after making his controversial move from Perth.
The Richmond champion is back in trouble after allegedly crashing his car into an elderly driver's car while sidelined with a hamstring injury.
It is believed the incident happened in Brighton on April 30 and no one was injured.
Cousins - who is overseas - did not return the Herald Sun's calls, but showed no sign of distress during his comeback game for the Coburg Tigers two days after the alleged incident, taking 30 possessions and earning a spot back in the seniors.
He will face Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on November 27 on a charge of beginning a U-turn without a clear view.
Punishment is usually a $187 on-the-spot fine and three demerit points, but could be heftier if the case is contested.
Cousins is no stranger to run-ins with the law, having been fined $900 for fleeing his car as he approached a booze bus in his home state of Western Australia in 2006.
He has publicly admitted his history of drug abuse and has worked hard to avoid trouble since joining the Tigers last season.
Cousins' manager Ricky Nixon - who in August lost his licence for drink-driving - described the latest incident as a "minor traffic offence".
"It's a charge we've known about for ages," Nixon said. "I'm not going to say what he did because everyone's going to say it makes him guilty."
Nixon - who is also overseas - said he was surprised the matter was headed to court.
"I didn't even know it was going to court to tell you the truth, but that's what happens when you have a name that is Ben Cousins," he said. "Whether he's going to plead guilty or not I don't really know because he's overseas for two weeks."
Police yesterday refused to provide details on the case, but the officer who booked Cousins described the incident as "unworthy of attention".
"There was nothing in it," he said.
Traffic law expert Brendan Murphy QC said it was highly unusual for someone to contest such a charge in court.
"There must be some compelling reason for any person to fight this charge bearing in mind the monetary penalty, except of course the imposition of demerit points," he said. "Very few people in the community would fight that."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/ben-cousins-on-driving-charge/story-e6frf7jo-1225788499888
