Tom Daley’s husband Dustin Lance Black has had an assault case towards him dismissed mid-trial.
The Oscar winner was accused of assaulting BBC presenter Teddy Edwardes on the Freedom nightclub in Soho in London on 18 August final 12 months.
Black, who married the Olympic champion diver in 2017, was on the venue along with his husband when he had an altercation with Edwardes, prosecutor Adrita Ahmed advised Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
He was alleged to have grabbed Edwardes’ wrist “very hard” – spilling a drink over her.
But District Judge Louisa Cieciora dismissed the cost, citing inconsistencies in Edwardes’ reside proof.
“[Edwardes] said in her evidence at one point that she could not remember a wrist grab,” the choose advised the courtroom.
“She then said that she was sure that it did happen – and that was an obvious contradiction.”
The choose mentioned CCTV footage was “not clear” because of “the angle of the camera”.
Court instances might be thrown out on the shut of the prosecution’s case if they’re so weak {that a} jury couldn’t correctly convict – and on this case, the jury was Judge Cieciora.
Her resolution means Black and Daley wouldn’t have to take the stand.
It adopted a submission from Helena Duong, defending, who mentioned the prosecution did not show Black grabbed Edwardes’ wrist.
Instead, she mentioned Black grabbed Edwardes’ drink and spilt it on the ground.
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Ms Duong mentioned it was Edwardes who had proven aggression.
It was an agreed truth within the case that Edwardes punched Black at the back of the pinnacle after their altercation.
She obtained a police warning for the punch, the courtroom was advised.
Speaking after the listening to, Black, who received an Oscar for greatest unique screenplay for 2008’s Milk, described the choose’s dismissal as a “moment of exoneration”.
“This case has flown in the face of everything that I am,” he mentioned.
“I am very grateful to the judge for exonerating me.”
Daley and Black welcomed their first little one Robert Ray in 2018 by way of surrogate, and their second son Phoenix Rose in April this 12 months.
Source: information.sky.com”