Braydon Trindall’s mother has publicly denied any involvement in sharing the photo of Latrell Mitchell, taking to social media to clarify her position.
The NRL has issued Latrell Mitchell with a breach notice in response to a photo showing him bending over a table that appears to contain a white powder. On Thursday afternoon, the league announced the sanction and stated that Mitchell has five days to respond to the notice.
In a statement, the NRL said, “The particulars of the breach notice are that Mitchell featured in imagery … which depicted him acting in a manner which has brought the game into disrepute.” Due to an agreement with the players’ union, the NRL is unable to disclose the details of the proposed sanction until Mitchell has responded.
South Sydney Rabbitohs had earlier confirmed that the photo was taken during Mitchell’s trip to Dubbo last weekend, where he was involved in community work and training clinics for kids. Mitchell, who is currently sidelined with a foot injury, is aiming to return to the field before the season concludes.
On Wednesday, Kerri Cochrane, the mother of Cronulla Sharks player Braydon Trindall, publicly denied any involvement in sharing the photo of Latrell Mitchell. The identity of the person who took and circulated the photo remains unknown, but according to the *Daily Telegraph*, Cochrane has refuted claims that she was responsible.
Cochrane asserted that a fake Snapchat account was created in her name to distribute the image. She expressed her frustration on Facebook, stating, “As if I would do such a f***kin thing. Tbh (to be honest) idgaf (I don’t give a f***k) what Latrell Mitchell does or anyone else for that matter, and I don’t need to ruin someone’s life and footy career to make a quick buck.”
Meanwhile, the identity of the woman standing next to Mitchell in the photo has come to light. Amy Brown, who reportedly lives in Lightning Ridge – around 350km north of Dubbo – took to Facebook to confirm it was her.
Brown wrote on Facebook: “Disappointed that they got my bad side. Done me dirty.” She also said there’s “no shame” in liking “to have fun” when she goes out. However Brown has also denied responsibility for leaking the photo, saying she didn’t even know it existed until 24 hours later.
Amy Brown has revealed she’s the woman in the photo with Latrell Mitchell. Image: Facebook
A leading lawyer has suggested that the NRL might not be able to suspend Latrell Mitchell based solely on the photo that has surfaced. Sydney lawyer Paul McGirr told *News Corp* this week that unless Mitchell or someone else present in the room attests to what was actually happening in the photo, the case could likely fall apart.
McGirr explained, “It’s mere speculation on a person who is seen bending down over a table. The NRL only has to prove matters on the balance of probabilities, but without any admissions, the case would struggle. Without assuming anything, there is nothing on the still shot that indicates what he is doing without running away with our minds. Without any confirmation or denial, it’s pure speculation.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has weighed in on the situation involving Latrell Mitchell, emphasizing that it should serve as a cautionary tale for all NRL players. Speaking on SEN radio, Meninga remarked, “You’re bringing the game into disrepute by putting yourself into that situation.”
Meninga expressed disappointment in the person who allegedly took and shared the photo of Mitchell, stating, “This fella who has allegedly taken this photo of Latrell with white powder, he’s not a mate. He’s not a friend; he’s a person trying to make money out of this.” He also defended Mitchell’s character, saying, “I know that Latrell is not that type of person who uses drugs. Let’s be honest, let’s make it out straight away. I don’t see him as a person who does that sort of stuff.”
However, Meninga also acknowledged the importance of maintaining high standards, particularly for public figures. “For those who stick up for Latrell, we hope he hasn’t let us down either, to be honest with you. People of high profile, not just Latrell, this is the society we’re living in now. You put yourself in those public situations, you’ve got to be so careful. So careful.”