Ben Stokes trial: All-rounder ‘lost control’ and hit two men, court told

England all-rounder Ben Stokes, whose trial over a nightclub brawl in Bristol last September started Monday, August 6, “lost control” and hit two men out of their consciousness in the alleged fight, the court was told, reported the UK’s media. The 27-year-old is set to miss the second match of the ongoing Test series between India and England because of the trial.

Stokes, 27, is accused of punching Ryan Hale, 27, and knocking out Ryan Ali, 28, soon after. All three have been accused of brawling and are undergoing the trial although they have denied the charges. While Ali has worked for the emergency services, Hale has served his country in the armed forces.

According to prosecutor Nicholas Corsellis, the fighting broke out in Bristol’s Clifton Triangle area on September 25, 2017, around after 2 AM after the trio left the Mbargo nightclub after drinking, “In the early hours of the morning of Monday September 25 2017, a fight took place between these three defendants in central Bristol in the area known as the Clifton Triangle,” Corsellis said.

“They were, the Crown say, all involved in threatening and/or using unlawful violence towards each other. Some participated to a greater extent than others as you will see.”

Stokes accused of mocking gay men and insulting nightclub doorman

The Telegraph reported that Stokes mocked two “flamboyant” gay men Kai Barry and William O’Connor in a way which is not decent and threw the butt of his cigarette at them before losing control over himself. The cricketer allegedly made fun of the two men, impersonating their hand movements, argued with a bouncer over re-entry in the nightclub and also allegedly insulted a doorman’s tattoos and teeth after he was refused entry into the nightclub despite offering £300. Even his England teammate Alex Hales asked him not to indulge in such behaviour.

The jury comprised six men and six women was also told by the prosecutor that the precise description of the brawl could be best told by the defendants and that the fighting could have been stopped sooner.

“But during the incident Mr Stokes lost his control and started to attack with revenge, retaliation or punishment in mind. Well beyond acting in self defence or defence of another,” Corsellis said. The prosecutor also said that fame does not absolve one from the duty or law.

“Mr Ali received significant injuries, including a fractured eye socket, and required hospital treatment,” Corsellis said, adding, “This was not a trivial moment of unpleasantness. It was a sustained episode of significant violence that left onlookers shocked at what was taking place.”

Earlier, Stokes, in a blue suit and red tie, was driven to the Crown Court in the city in a silver people carrier and walked into the building under the media’s watch. Wearing a blue suit and red tie, Stokes was driven to the city’s Crown Court in a silver people carrier and walked straight into the building flanked by the media.

Stokes played a key role in the second innings of the first Test in Birmingham by taking four Indian wickets, including that of in-form captain Virat Kohli, to secure a 31-run win to go 1-0 up in the series.

[interaction id=”5b681024b2f5084edafc5ee7″]