A mum-to-be who battered a woman over the head with her SHOE has been cleared of assault after telling a court she acted in self-defence to protect her unborn child.
Leanne Ward, 36, was pregnant when she was confronted by Lucy Dunphy who threatened to "kill her" in a pub on New Year's Eve.
A court heard Ward took off her shoes as she prepared to run away from the scene but lashed out when Ms Dunphy "launched at her".
Ms Dunphy suffered a 2cm wound to her forehead which required treatment in hospital after Ward struck her in the beer garden at the Royal Oak pub in Earlsdon, Coventry.
Ward was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and was hauled before Warwick Crown Court where she went on trial this week.
But a jury took just one hour to find her not guilty of the charge on Thursday after hearing how Ms Dunphy had been the aggressor.
Ward told the court how Ms Dunphy had had shouted "I’m going to f***ing kill you" so left the pub with her friend to get away from any trouble.
Giving evidence, Ward said: “She said ‘you can’t f***ing hide, I’m going to kill you.’ I knew she meant it. She was very angry.
"I took my shoes off because I was going to make a run for it, but there was tables in the way.
"I was just trying to ward her away from me, I didn’t mean to hit her.”
Asked by her barrister Tomas Quinn what was in her mind when Ms Dunphy returned for a second time, Ward said: “I had a wave of fear going through me.
Read more of today's stories here
"I thought she’s got a weapon, she’s going to kill me, I’ve got to protect myself and my unborn child.”
Mr Quinn told the court: "You are entitled to defend yourself and to pre-emptively strike someone in self-defence as long as it is reasonable and proportionate.”
Prosecutor Graeme Simpson played CCTV of the incident to the jury and argued Ward, of Earlsdon, could be seen "losing it twice."
The footage showed Ward and a friend, accompanied by a female member of the door staff, going out and sitting on a bench.
Ms Dunphy then appeared and sat nearby, making a phone call, before getting up and walking over to Ward and saying something to her in an aggressive manner.
As a female bouncer stood between them, facing Ms Dunphy, Ward stood up and swung at her head with the shoe, which she had taken off.
Ms Dunphy staggered away and went back into the pub before coming out again and going over towards Ward who was said to have aimed another blow at her.
Mr Simpson said: “She doesn’t seem remotely interested in running away.
“Let’s be realistic, what you’ve seen is Leanne Ward losing it twice in quick succession.
“There was a degree of provocation, but provocation does not justify an attack, let alone with a weapon.”
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news. We are on Instagram too. We'll also bring you live updates and notifications of breaking news on the M.E.N. app - download it here.
