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| London zoo monkey-keeper and meerkat-keeper 'fought over llama-keeper' | London zoo monkey-keeper and meerkat-keeper 'fought over llama-keeper' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A fight broke out at London zoo’s Christmas party when a monkey-keeper and a meerkat-keeper argued over the affections of a llama-keeper, a court has heard. | A fight broke out at London zoo’s Christmas party when a monkey-keeper and a meerkat-keeper argued over the affections of a llama-keeper, a court has heard. |
| Caroline Westlake, who worked in the zoo’s meerkat enclosure, allegedly assaulted her colleague, Kate Sanders, leaving her with a facial wound that required stitches. | Caroline Westlake, who worked in the zoo’s meerkat enclosure, allegedly assaulted her colleague, Kate Sanders, leaving her with a facial wound that required stitches. |
| Westlake, 30, from Banstead, Surrey, has denied one count of assault by beating, at Westminster magistrates court. | Westlake, 30, from Banstead, Surrey, has denied one count of assault by beating, at Westminster magistrates court. |
| The two women came to blows at the zoo’s Prince Albert Suite following a row over llama-keeper Adam Davies, who had dated Sanders for five years but started a relationship with Westlake after they split, the court heard. | The two women came to blows at the zoo’s Prince Albert Suite following a row over llama-keeper Adam Davies, who had dated Sanders for five years but started a relationship with Westlake after they split, the court heard. |
| Sanders saw the couple together for the first time at the Christmas party on 8 December and made a comment about Westlake’s appearance, sparking an argument that allegedly ended with Westlake hitting Sanders in the face with a wine glass. | Sanders saw the couple together for the first time at the Christmas party on 8 December and made a comment about Westlake’s appearance, sparking an argument that allegedly ended with Westlake hitting Sanders in the face with a wine glass. |
| Sanders told the court of her shock when blood came pouring out of her mouth during the fight. “Things were being said on both sides that shouldn’t have been said,” she said. “I told her I’d seen a text she sent him asking him out for a drink while we were still dating and the next thing I know I was hit in the face with something very hard. | Sanders told the court of her shock when blood came pouring out of her mouth during the fight. “Things were being said on both sides that shouldn’t have been said,” she said. “I told her I’d seen a text she sent him asking him out for a drink while we were still dating and the next thing I know I was hit in the face with something very hard. |
| “I was hit on the left cheek and from the feeling it was a glass and had come from a low position. I was extremely shocked when it hit me. I tried to protect myself by reaching out my right hand and pushing her against the nearest thing to me, which was some railings.” | “I was hit on the left cheek and from the feeling it was a glass and had come from a low position. I was extremely shocked when it hit me. I tried to protect myself by reaching out my right hand and pushing her against the nearest thing to me, which was some railings.” |
| Sanders, of north London, was given a final warning and banned from Zoological Society of London events for two years as a result of the fight. | Sanders, of north London, was given a final warning and banned from Zoological Society of London events for two years as a result of the fight. |
| Westlake, who has worked at the zoo for four-and-a-half years, was sacked from her job looking after the meerkats and the rainforest zone. | Westlake, who has worked at the zoo for four-and-a-half years, was sacked from her job looking after the meerkats and the rainforest zone. |
| Defence solicitor Suzanne Kelly told Sanders she had instigated the fight with Westlake by punching her in the face, lunging at her and pushing her over nearby railings. | |
| “That is definitely not true. I did push her against the barrier to protect myself,” Sanders said. | “That is definitely not true. I did push her against the barrier to protect myself,” Sanders said. |
| The trial continues. |