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11/06/03 - Men cleared of harm
charge after pub row
Peterborough Telegraph
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| Derek Rippey (36), left, and Jonathon
Collins (32), both from Woodston, who were cleared
of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Gary Unsworth
outside the Swiss Cottage pub. |
THE trial of two men accused of attacking a man following
a dispute inside a city pub has collapsed, due to lack
of evidence. Jonathon Collins (32) and Derek Rippey (36)
denied inflicting grievous bodily harm on Gary Unsworth
outside the Swiss Cottage, in Grove Street, New Fletton,
on the evening of September 15, last year.
Peterborough Crown Court had heard Mr Unsworth was left
in intensive care with severe head injuries after the
alleged incident. The jury was told a scuffle broke out
in the pub after Mr Unsworth nudged Mr Collins' girlfriend,
Leonie, with his cue, during a game of pool. And in a
police interview following the alleged attack, Mr Rippey
admitted grappling with Mr Unsworth.
He said: "He knocked our drinks over, then he tried
to wrestle with me. "We were leaving, and he came
from nowhere and we started wrestling again. "Jon
tried to break it up, and he and Mr Unsworth fell through
the door." Mr Rippey and Mr Collins, both of Palmerston
Road, Woodston, Peterborough, claimed Mr Unsworth hit
his head on the pavement.
And Home Office pathologist Dr Nat Cary said there was
no evidence that the injuries, which included a fractured
skull, were caused in any other way. Judge Paul Jacobs
cleared both men, adding: "The defendants fought
in self- defence." Following the trial's collapse,
Mr Rippey said: "We're both relieved. This has been
hanging over us for months." |
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