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Arthur Collins acid trial: Ferne McCann's family 'told of baby news' | Arthur Collins acid trial: Ferne McCann's family 'told of baby news' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The ex-boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann told her family she was pregnant hours before he sprayed a crowd of nightclub revellers with acid, a court has heard. | The ex-boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann told her family she was pregnant hours before he sprayed a crowd of nightclub revellers with acid, a court has heard. |
Arthur Collins, 25, the father of Ms McCann's unborn child, said they broke the news at a barbecue on 16 April. | Arthur Collins, 25, the father of Ms McCann's unborn child, said they broke the news at a barbecue on 16 April. |
In the early hours of 17 April, more than a dozen people were injured at the Mangle E8 club in Dalston, east London. | |
Mr Collins admits throwing the liquid but says he did not know it was acid. | Mr Collins admits throwing the liquid but says he did not know it was acid. |
Mr Collins and his co-accused, 21-year-old Andre Phoenix, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm in relation to the incident, in which several people were disfigured. | Mr Collins and his co-accused, 21-year-old Andre Phoenix, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm in relation to the incident, in which several people were disfigured. |
Jurors at Wood Green Crown Court heard that Mr Collins had been in a serious relationship with The Only Way Is Essex star Ms McCann for about a year at the time, and had found out she was pregnant just weeks earlier. | Jurors at Wood Green Crown Court heard that Mr Collins had been in a serious relationship with The Only Way Is Essex star Ms McCann for about a year at the time, and had found out she was pregnant just weeks earlier. |
"It was the happiest I have ever felt. We were both really happy," said Mr Collins, who was living with his parents in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. | "It was the happiest I have ever felt. We were both really happy," said Mr Collins, who was living with his parents in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. |
The court heard how after breaking the news, Mr Collins left the barbecue to attend a LoveJuice event at Mangle. | The court heard how after breaking the news, Mr Collins left the barbecue to attend a LoveJuice event at Mangle. |
Mr Collins - who had entered the club wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Candy Killer" - told the jury he had been drinking at the venue but was not drunk. | Mr Collins - who had entered the club wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Candy Killer" - told the jury he had been drinking at the venue but was not drunk. |
CCTV footage of the alleged attack showed victims clutching their faces after Mr Collins was seen dousing revellers from a bottle with a substance later found to have contained a liquid with a rating of pH1 - indicating a strong acid. | CCTV footage of the alleged attack showed victims clutching their faces after Mr Collins was seen dousing revellers from a bottle with a substance later found to have contained a liquid with a rating of pH1 - indicating a strong acid. |
Mr Collins told the jury he had thought the bottle actually contained a date rape drug. | Mr Collins told the jury he had thought the bottle actually contained a date rape drug. |
He said he had snatched it after hearing two men planning to spike a woman's drink. | He said he had snatched it after hearing two men planning to spike a woman's drink. |
'Really aggressive' | 'Really aggressive' |
Mr Collins said: "I wanted to show them the drugs was gone so they wouldn't spike any girl's drink and show them there was nothing left in the bottle." | Mr Collins said: "I wanted to show them the drugs was gone so they wouldn't spike any girl's drink and show them there was nothing left in the bottle." |
He said the men were "really aggressive" as they came towards him in a bid to get the bottle back. | He said the men were "really aggressive" as they came towards him in a bid to get the bottle back. |
"I remember undoing the bottle and I threw it at the males," he told the jury. | "I remember undoing the bottle and I threw it at the males," he told the jury. |
Before Mr Collins gave evidence on Wednesday, jurors were told a number of the charges against him and Mr Phoenix had been dropped following legal argument. | Before Mr Collins gave evidence on Wednesday, jurors were told a number of the charges against him and Mr Phoenix had been dropped following legal argument. |
Mr Collins denies five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and nine counts of causing actual bodily harm against 14 people. | Mr Collins denies five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and nine counts of causing actual bodily harm against 14 people. |
Mr Phoenix, of Clyde Road, Tottenham, north London, denies four counts of GBH and two counts of ABH. | Mr Phoenix, of Clyde Road, Tottenham, north London, denies four counts of GBH and two counts of ABH. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |