Sydney Swans Players' Sexual Assault Allegations Investigation Continues, No Charges Laid
Victoria Police provide update on ongoing investigation into alleged sexual assaults at a Melbourne hotel involving Sydney Swans players.
Detectives investigating allegations of sexual assaults within a Melbourne hotel room, where Sydney Swans players were celebrating a victory, have not yet submitted their evidence to prosecutors. Victoria Police stated Tuesday night that the investigation remains active with no definitive timeline for its conclusion and no charges have been filed.
The players involved, known as the Pullman Five, were suspended by the club for violating rules regarding alcohol consumption following a night of partying with entertainers at the Pullman Hotel in east Melbourne on August 17. These sexual assault allegations are distinct from the suspensions.
Investigators have interviewed four players: Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon, and Nick Blakey. The fifth player, Riley Bice, is currently considered a witness. Victorian detectives traveled to Sydney earlier this month to conduct formal interviews with the four players, along with three other witnesses present in the room that night. Police have indicated they believe they have identified all individuals present during the alleged incident and are not seeking further persons of interest.
It is anticipated that the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions will receive a brief of evidence before November, which will include recommendations on whether charges should be pursued against any of the four players. Following a review by prosecutors, a decision will be made on the prospect of a conviction and whether to proceed to court.
The Daily Mail has not suggested any wrongdoing by the four players but confirms they have spoken with police as part of the inquiry. The precise nature of the allegations has not been publicly disclosed, although reports suggest one allegation involves a player allegedly touching a stripper on the buttocks more times than had been agreed upon.
An audio recording obtained from a Melbourne property is believed to be a significant piece of evidence, allegedly containing accounts from individuals who were in the hotel room. Sources indicate the recording details events involving the five Sydney Swans players and two other men who had hired three women as topless waitresses. Another account from the recording reportedly covers events in the hotel lobby, where Swans officials, including coach Dean Cox, were seen interacting with some of the women.
The club has declined to comment on the investigation or the players' future on the field. The players returned to the club for exit interviews earlier this month. The Swans and the AFL were reportedly made aware of the recording but had no confirmation of its existence or content.