Ben Stokes trial: Jury shown ‘groin grab’ video; footage inconclusive, says officer in charge

Even as England prepare for the second Test against India to build up on their 1-0 lead achieved at Edgbaston, the trial of their premier all-rounder Ben Stokes over a brawl in a nightclub in Bristol last year has gained momentum. On Wednesday, August 8 – the third day of the trial – the jury was shown security camera footage of a gay man allegedly grabbing the groin of another defendant shortly before the fight started.

Stokes has been accused of losing self-control and knocking two men, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, out of their consciousness besides misbehaving with a couple of gay men and the bouncer at the nightclub for allegedly denying him entry. The defendants, however, denied the charges of getting involved in the brawl outside the Mbargo nightclub in the early hours of September 25.

Details of the incident

According to a report in NDTV Sports, the prosecution said that 27-year-old cricketer told the police that he intervened with Ali and Hale after overhearing “nasty homophobic language” and that he acted in self-defence when he perceived a threat of being hit with a bottle. He consequently hit the two other men. The video footage showed Ali and Hale, holding beer bottles, walking up the road with Kai Barry and William O’Connor who the prosecution termed as “flamboyant, extrovert and openly gay” and went to Mbargo nightclub regularly.

The footage also showed Stokes and fellow England international Alex Hales overtaking the four and then Stokes turning back at Barry and Ali.

Daniel Adams, the officer in charge of the case, told the jury that Ali and Barry seemed to be in a disagreement and that the latter grabbed the former around the groin area. Barry was then seen walking away from Ali but returning later.

More footage showed Stokes approaching Ali who was returning but after that, it became very difficult to establish who all were actually involved in the affray, according to Adams. Hale was seen falling on the ground but getting up after 20 seconds and disappeared only to come back what looked like a metal pole, the report added. But it remained inconclusive from the footage what was he trying to do with the object in his hand.

Stokes played a crucial part in securing England’s 31-run win over India in the first Test by picking four wickets in the second innings but will not feature at Lord’s and could even miss the third Test in Trent Bridge next week.

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