St Kilda forward Stephen Milne takes indefinite leave of absence following rape charges ST KILDA forward Stephen Milne has taken an indefinite leave of absence after being charged with four counts of rape yesterday. The Saints terminated Andrew Lovett's three-year contract with the club upon his rape charge in February 2010 (he was later acquitted). But the two cases are different as our timelines show. March 13, 2004: St Kilda caps an electric month by winning the Wizard Cup grand final, defeating Geelong by 22 points. Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna play in the Saints' winning side. March 17, 2004: It's revealed Milne, 24, and Montagna, 20, were interviewed by detectives over an alleged incident at a bayside home on the Sunday night, little more than 24 hours after beating the Cats. St Kilda says the allegations, made by one of two women who went to the house with the players, are of a "serious sexual nature." No charges are laid. Milne should play: Riewoldt March 17, 2004: The AFL gives the green light to Milne and Montagna to play for St Kilda in Round 1 despite allegations of a serious sexual nature hanging over them. Asked if they should be allowed to play, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says: "I wouldn't see why not. (If not) we are presuming what the outcome of the investigation is. March 18, 2004: The sexual assault inquiry involving the two St Kilda players formally becomes a rape investigation. Police sources say one of the two women involved in the alleged assault is pursuing the rape claims. Both players deny any wrongdoing. May 6, 2004: Police says sexual assault charges are unlikely to be laid against Milne and Montagna. May 8: 2004: Milne breaks his silence. "It's a weight off my shoulders - I have been vindicated," he says. I've done nothing wrong. I have always maintained my innocence and I am relieved that it is all over. Montagna declines to comment. The two young women at the centre of the allegations continue to shun the public spotlight. June 22, 2010: A former detective who led the investigation claims the rape case against Milne collapsed amid a campaign of threats and intimidation from inside Victoria Police. Former Brighton Sen-Det Scott Gladman tells Nine News tapes of interviews with the two Saints were stolen from his desk and the alleged victim's statement was leaked to the club during the six-week investigation. "We were told that if things went well, consider yourself a Saints person for life," he says. June 23, 2010: Chief Commissioner Simon Overland says the Office of Police Integrity will investigate allegations that other police officers had tried to derail the rape inquiry. Mr Overland says the case could be reopened in an effort to ensure justice was not compromised. June 24, 2010: Corruption investigators raid the Brighton police station as the probe into how the case was conducted grows. Victoria Police Ethical Standards Department officers involved in the swoop on Brighton CIU allegedly discover that vital evidence relating to the case was missing. May 3, 2012: An Office of Police Integrity report recommends that police review the brief against Milne. May 31, 2012: The decision not to charge Milne with rape is backed by the Office of Police Integrity. A Victoria Police spokesman confirms its review of the Milne brief of evidence, which the OPI recommended it carry out, was not finished. But Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton indicates he doesn't expect the review will result in charges being laid. June 18, 2013: Milne is charged with four counts of rape relating to the alleged attack on a woman in 2004. June 19, 2013: St Kilda announces Milne will remain a listed player despite taking an indefinite leave of absence. October 6, 2009: Andrew Lovett, 26, joins St Kilda from Essendon in exchange for the Saints' first-round draft pick (No.16). November 14, 2009: Lovett, while on annual leave and celebrating his 27th birthday with friends at a private residence in St Kilda, is detained by police and charged with being drunk in a public place. December 24, 2009: Victoria Police investigates allegations made by a woman against Lovett, following an incident in Melbourne in the early hours of that morning. St Kilda suspends Lovett indefinitely later that day. February 2, 2010: St Kilda and Lovett undertake a grievance meeting, brought by Andrew Lovett's management and legal representation. February 15, 2010: Victoria Police charges Lovett with one count of rape. February 16, 2010: St Kilda terminates Lovett's employment with the club, effective immediately. A statement from St Kilda says it "relied on specific clauses within Andrew Lovett's Standard Playing Contract and the AFL Players' Code of Conduct, to permit termination of contract for breach of such clauses." St Kilda CEO Michael Nettlefold says: "During Andrew's short tenure with the club, on a number of occasions he engaged in actions that were failures to comply with our standards of expected behavioural conduct. These failures related to his training commitments and a failure to contact club officials in a situation where he should have done so. We simply could not ignore such breaches. Nor could we ignore the damage being done to St Kilda's reputation and decided unanimously as a club to terminate Andrew Lovett's employment with the Saints. February 16, 2010: The AFL acknowledges St Kilda's termination of Lovett's employment. "The AFL respects the right of St Kilda to make this decision and we do not intend to interfere in the matter," says the AFL's then general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson. June 11, 2010: St Kilda and Lovett reach a confidential settlement of the disputes relating to Lovett's employment with St Kilda and all associated legal proceedings. July 25, 2011: Lovett is acquitted of rape by a County Court jury.