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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Staff Reporter

Ben Stokes trial - latest: Doorman gives evidence on England cricketer's nightclub brawl

The trial of England cricketer Ben Stokes resumes at Bristol Crown Court today.

The all-rounder, 27, is accused of attacking two men in a brawl outside of a local nightclub last September.

The court heard yesterday that Mr Stokes “lost control” in the affray and knocked Ryan Hale, 27, to the ground before knocking out Ryan Ali, 28.

Follow the latest on the trail in our liveblog below. 

Live Updates

13:20
The court has retired for lunch. Excellent plan.
13:07
Mr Corsellis, prosecuting, has asked Mr Cunningham to describe Stokes's demeanour as he left.

"I just thought he was still annoyed with me as he walked up the road," he tells the court.

Mr Cunningham, who is not a cricket fan, says a few students and taxi drivers had mentioned that members of the England team, including Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett, were in the club that night.

12:56
Earlier today, the judge, Peter Blair QC, reiterated to the jury the directions he had given them yesterday about only trying the case on the evidence they hear in the courtroom.
He said: “Because of the public interest in the individuals in the trial, who are accused, inevitably there is a great deal of press interest.
“It is inevitable that you will not be able to avoid the fact they are on the television and in the newspapers.
“But they can only ever present a fraction of the material that is presented to you and really you should not take any notice of them.
“One thing the court has no control over is the explosion of social media and it is likely in this case that people have tweeted things and put things on Facebook and make comments and who have not been in court.
“It is extremely important that you do not examine any of that because it can come from any biased viewpoint; people that have particular bug-bears or prejudice.
“I am asking that you do not go looking at that sort of material if you are someone who uses Twitter or Facebook or the multiplicity of social media sites.”
12:41
Nicholas Corsellis, prosecuting, has asked Mr Cunningham about Stokes's tone during the exchange, to which he replied: "Quite a spiteful tone, quite an angry tone."
12:30
Quick recap: Ben Stokes is accused of affray and has been described in Bristol Crown Court as mimicking the mannerisms of a gay man – William O’Connor – outside the Mbargo nightclub in Bristol, before he then allegedly knocked two other men unconscious.
The doorman at the club, Andrew Cunningham is giving evidence. He says after he refused to allow England cricketers Ben Stokes and Alex Hales to re-enter the club, Stokes told Cunningham his “tattoos were shit” and that he looked like a “c***”.
12:18
The nightclub shut at 2am, but Stokes and Hales returned to the club in a taxi and tried to bribe Mr Cunningham to let them in after hours, the doorman says.
Mr Cunningham describes Stokes as “the ginger one”, and says he – Stokes – offered him £60 to let them in. When he refused, he claims Stokes upped the offer to £300.
When he again refused Stokes then called him a “c***,”, and Mr Cunningham said he replied: “Thanks very much.”
12:13
Mr Cunningham, the head doorman for Mbargo – the nightclub in Bristol where the brawl occurred – says he didn’t recognise Stokes and Hales, as he is not a cricket fan.
He adds that when they first arrived, he suggested they came back later as the club was quiet. When they returned at 2330, he said they were “good as gold”.
12:03
PC Adams has now finished. After a short break, Bristol Crown Court will hear from Mbargo doorman Andrew Cunningham.
11:56
PC Adams says the act of flicking the cigarette butt was “not in the least” friendly, and adds the being refused a handshake by Andrew Cunningham, the bouncer, irritated Stokes and left him angry.
11:37
PC Adams says the footage shows Stokes mimicking customers and then flicking a cigarette at them
11:26
Danny Adams, from Avon and Somerset police, is now giving evidence. As he is taken through the CCTV footage from the night, he notes that Stokes and teammate Alex Hales waved at the CCTV when it was pointed out to them that they were being filmed.
11:12
Today the court will hear from the doorman at the Mbargo club, Andrew Cunningham, along with other prosecution witnesses.
10:42
Ryan Hale and Ryan Ali have now arrived at Bristol Crown Court where they are also accused of affray
10:40
If the trial goes on longer than expected, Mr Stokes could miss England's third Test against India at Trent Bridge in Nottinghamshire, the Mail Online notes. Would he be allowed to play if found guilty and is awaiting sentencing?
 
The ground at Trent Bridge was first used for cricket as far back as the 1830s.
10:24
The England cricketer is accused of affray, and the trial is expected to last between five and seven hours in courtroom one
 
10:15
Ben Stokes has arrived at Bristol Crown Court with his wife Claire
 

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