Thorbjørn Olesen: How did the jury clear the Danish golfer of multiple charges?

Thorbjørn Olesen is now free to continue his golf career after being cleared by a jury of multiple charges.

Olesen apologised for his conduct on board a British Airways flight and said in a statement: "I have a paid a heavy price for my mistake."

The Dane, 31, denied and was cleared of sexual assault, assault by beating and being drunk on an aircraft. 

A jury took less than an hour to clear him of the three charges at a London court, which had he been convicted of would have ended his career. 

As ever when there is a sport star in the dock facing serious charges, there is a high level of media interest. 

A throng of reporters sat in the crown court and observed the two-day trial, informing the public of what is being said. 

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Reporting of criminal trials...

It is difficult to convey the entirety of a criminal trial to the public. 

There are countless documents, witness statements, speeches and evidence that needs to be poured over. 

After the prosecution and the defence have presented their cases, there comes a key point in the trial.

The judge will sum up the case and give the jury legal directions. 

Olesen's trial was interesting as his barrister ran the defence of automatism (he was not in control of his behaviour).

What did the judge say?

After the judge sums up the what the prosecution has said, including what witnesses have claimed, he has to tell the jury how to apply the law.

The legal directions can be time consuming, but it is a vitally important part of the trial. 

In simple terms, the directions are a essentially a flowchart of questions the jury need work through to answer so they can find a defendant guilty or not guilty. 

What happened in the Olesen trial?

GolfMagic asked the court to provide a copy of the legal directions that were given to the jury in this trial.

That better helps us understand how the jury reached their verdict. 

It can be complicated, but this is what the judge told the jury:

JTO = Thorbjørn Olesen

1. As a matter of law, in most cases before the

criminal courts, voluntary or self induced

drunkenness or intoxication is not a defence.

A defendant cannot avoid responsibility for his

actions by claiming that it was the drink or drugs

or a combination of the two which caused him to

commit the offence.

2. There remains a defence of automatism. That is

where the defendant acts without any voluntary

control caused by taking drugs.

3. This defence can only arise in limited

circumstances where a defendant takes a substance

which is not known for producing states of

unpredictability or aggression in the taker but

then suffers such an adverse reaction such as to

take away his ability to act voluntarily and thus

he acts as an automaton.

4. If that happens then a defendant will not be guilty

of the ensuing criminal acts provided that he did

not act recklessly in taking the substance in the

first place.

5. The Crown puts its case in two ways

6. First, it states that JTO knew what he was doing

and was able to exercise control over his actions.

He was not acting in a state of automatism and thus

he was responsible for his actions.

7. Secondly, even if he was in a state of automatism,

the Crown states that he brought it about himself

by acting recklessly in taking the zolpidem

tablets, whether by itself or when he had been

drinking and taking other medication.

8. Step one

Was JTO able to exercise any control over his

actions as alleged in each count?

If you are sure that he was, then you must find him

guilty of the count upon which you are dealing.

If you are not sure, then you will have to consider

the question of JTO’s behaviour and whether he was

reckless.

Step two

When JTO took the drug, was JTO aware of that there

was a risk that it might lead to such conduct as

occurred but went on to take that risk when it was

unreasonable for him so to do in the circumstances

known to him?

When considering this question of recklessness you

should take into account the following

[NB : this is not necessarily an exhaustive list

nor is it in any order of importance].

[1] The quantity of alcohol and/or the nature and

quantity of drugs and/or the combination of

substances that JTO had taken.

[2] The time when JTO took the same.

[3] The circumstances in which JTO took the

substances.

[4] JTO’s knowledge and/or experience of alcohol

and/or the drug[s] concerned and the effects of

taking them as a combination.

[5] The evidence of the experts as to the effects.

[6] Any evidence of JTO's conduct which is

relevant.

[7] What JTO did and said at the time both before

during and after the alleged offences.

Result

If you are sure that JTO was reckless, then you

must find him guilty.

If you are not sure, then you must find him not

guilty.

This information helps us better understand the jury's route to verdict. 

Olesen later released a statement after he was cleared. 

He said: 

"I want to apologise wholeheartedly to everyone on board the flight from Memphis to London on 29 July 2019 who was affected by my behaviour.

"I do not remember anything that happened after take-off, but I am embarrassed and ashamed by the account of my actions that was outlined during the trial. My behaviour was completely out of character and nothing like this has ever happened to me before or since.

"My actions resulted from taking powerful sleeping pills I had not taken before and my sole intent was to ensure I managed to sleep on a transatlantic flight after an exhausting playing schedule. I have paid a very heavy price for my mistake. This case has had a devastating impact on me personally, on my family, and on my career.

"I have learned from my mistake and will make sure I never put myself in a similar position again. I now want to focus on my golf, free from distractions, and to repay the trust of everyone who has kept faith in me throughout this very difficult time."

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