Real Madrid's James misses court appointment for birthday party
James didn't turn up to a court appointment investigating his 200 km/h police chase on motorway outside Madrid, as he was at his birthday party in Colombia
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According to Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, James Rodríguez didn't turn up to a court appointment on Tuesday 12 July, set by the judge investigating his being caught doing more than 200 km/h on the M40 motorway outside Madrid, before fleeing from police and hiding in the Real Madrid training grounds. The Real Madrid striker was at the time of the court appointment in Colombia, celebrating his 25th birthday.
James ignored court appointment
According to sources close to the case, James was notified by registered fax of the court appointment at Court Number 8 in the Plaza Castilla courthouse in Madrid, near the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, on 12 July at 13:00.
The same sources say that Judge Rosario de Fátima Espinosa, sitting in session, and waiting for the player to appear confirmed the player had been duly notified of the appointment. When the player failed to show up, with no lawyer appearing either to explain the situation, the judge called for a new appointment to be set for James to present his case as to why he was doing 80km/h in excess of the speed limit and then fled from police. The judge could fine James for his failure to turn up, where he does not consider the player's explanation for his absence reasonable.
James has already been fined by the police 10,400 euros for his failure to stop. However the legal case into the affair ended up being postponed by the court until after the Champions League final, which saw James' Real Madrid play Atlético Madrid.
James birthday party
When James was meant to be in Madrid at the courthouse he was instead in Colombia celebrating his birthday. The player enjoyed a barbecue with his family in a luxury property on the outskirts of Medellín. According to Colombian radio station radio Caracol residence has a full size football pitch in the grounds. Also at the party were Colombian DJ Daniel Amézquita, alias Moska, singer Pipe Bueno and reggaeton producer Nicky Jam.
James thanked everybody who had said happy birthday to him on social networks and appeared delighted as he enjoyed a big cake with the Real Madrid crest on it.
James fled from police at 200km/h on 1 January 2016
James, driving a high-powered Audi, fled from an unmarked police car after this latter caught him doing 200km/h on the M40 Madrid ringroad. The Real Madrid midfielder later explained that he thought it might have been a kidnap attempt, hence his decision to ignore the calls to stop and flee to the Real Madrid training grounds.
