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Gerrard 'victim' tells of attack | Gerrard 'victim' tells of attack |
(1 day later) | |
The man allegedly attacked by England midfielder Steven Gerrard in a Merseyside bar has told a jury he faced a "barrage" of punches. | The man allegedly attacked by England midfielder Steven Gerrard in a Merseyside bar has told a jury he faced a "barrage" of punches. |
Marcus McGee, 34, told Liverpool Crown Court he was attacked after he refused to give Mr Gerrard control of a CD player in the Lounge Inn, Southport. | Marcus McGee, 34, told Liverpool Crown Court he was attacked after he refused to give Mr Gerrard control of a CD player in the Lounge Inn, Southport. |
Mr McGee, who was initially struck by Mr Gerrard's friend John Doran, said he thought the footballer hit him first. | Mr McGee, who was initially struck by Mr Gerrard's friend John Doran, said he thought the footballer hit him first. |
Mr Gerrard, of Formby, Merseyside, denies affray. | Mr Gerrard, of Formby, Merseyside, denies affray. |
During the attack in the early hours of 29 December last year Mr McGee lost a crown on a front tooth, the court heard. | During the attack in the early hours of 29 December last year Mr McGee lost a crown on a front tooth, the court heard. |
'Give me that' | 'Give me that' |
Mr Gerrard, who was in the club with friends to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United, is shown on CCTV walking away before he returns several minutes later. | Mr Gerrard, who was in the club with friends to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United, is shown on CCTV walking away before he returns several minutes later. |
Mr McGee said: "I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but I didn't know who has done what. | Mr McGee said: "I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but I didn't know who has done what. |
Looking at my hand movements I was asking him how he would react if somebody came up to him and wanted to take something off him in a manner I found to be rude Marcus McGee | Looking at my hand movements I was asking him how he would react if somebody came up to him and wanted to take something off him in a manner I found to be rude Marcus McGee |
"Having watched the CCTV it was obvious Steven Gerrard hits me a couple of times, maybe three times, but I couldn't honestly say on the night. | "Having watched the CCTV it was obvious Steven Gerrard hits me a couple of times, maybe three times, but I couldn't honestly say on the night. |
"I didn't know who did what." | "I didn't know who did what." |
Mr McGee said he was asked by the manager to be in charge of the music. | Mr McGee said he was asked by the manager to be in charge of the music. |
Being led through his evidence by prosecuting barrister David Turner QC, Mr McGee said Mr Gerrard had tried to grab a card from his hand which controlled the stereo. | Being led through his evidence by prosecuting barrister David Turner QC, Mr McGee said Mr Gerrard had tried to grab a card from his hand which controlled the stereo. |
He said: "It was something to the effect of 'Here you are, lad, give me that'." | He said: "It was something to the effect of 'Here you are, lad, give me that'." |
He said he recognised Mr Gerrard, but did not give the card to him. | He said he recognised Mr Gerrard, but did not give the card to him. |
Mr Gerrard was with a group of friends at the Lounge Inn | |
"He made a move to try to grab the card to take it away and I remember it slipped on the floor at one stage. | "He made a move to try to grab the card to take it away and I remember it slipped on the floor at one stage. |
"He then walked away, that was the end of it." | "He then walked away, that was the end of it." |
The Liverpool captain then returned to Mr McGee. | The Liverpool captain then returned to Mr McGee. |
"In my statement I didn't recall the conversation but looking at my hand movements I was asking him how he would react if somebody came up to him and wanted to take something off him in a manner I found to be rude," he said. | "In my statement I didn't recall the conversation but looking at my hand movements I was asking him how he would react if somebody came up to him and wanted to take something off him in a manner I found to be rude," he said. |
"I gave my statement in the 100% firm belief it was Steven Gerrard who hit me first. | "I gave my statement in the 100% firm belief it was Steven Gerrard who hit me first. |
"I gave that statement in good faith but changed it after watching the CCTV." | "I gave that statement in good faith but changed it after watching the CCTV." |
Mr McGee said he did not throw any punches and did not act aggressively. | Mr McGee said he did not throw any punches and did not act aggressively. |
'Benefit financially' | 'Benefit financially' |
Mr McGee told Mr Gerrard's barrister, John Kelsey-Fry, that because the footballer was famous he did not expect any trouble. | Mr McGee told Mr Gerrard's barrister, John Kelsey-Fry, that because the footballer was famous he did not expect any trouble. |
Mr McGee said he was left "reeling" after being elbowed by John Doran and did not initially try to defend himself. | Mr McGee said he was left "reeling" after being elbowed by John Doran and did not initially try to defend himself. |
He said he ended up on the floor being kicked - which Mr Gerrard is not accused of taking part in - and stood up to defend himself. | He said he ended up on the floor being kicked - which Mr Gerrard is not accused of taking part in - and stood up to defend himself. |
Mr Gerrard arrived at court on Monday morning | |
Under cross-examination, Mr McGee claimed he did not plan to benefit financially from the attack. | Under cross-examination, Mr McGee claimed he did not plan to benefit financially from the attack. |
He admitted a solicitor initially acting for him advised him to start a civil claim against the midfielder but he later dispensed with the lawyer's services. | He admitted a solicitor initially acting for him advised him to start a civil claim against the midfielder but he later dispensed with the lawyer's services. |
Mr Kelsey-Fry said: "On your behalf, did your solicitor speak to Mr Gerrard's, saying that, as far as you were concerned, this had all been a terrible misunderstanding - and you were wondering if there was any way this could be sorted out amicably?" | Mr Kelsey-Fry said: "On your behalf, did your solicitor speak to Mr Gerrard's, saying that, as far as you were concerned, this had all been a terrible misunderstanding - and you were wondering if there was any way this could be sorted out amicably?" |
"Definitely not, I never said those words," Mr McGee answered. | "Definitely not, I never said those words," Mr McGee answered. |
Player's 'minder' | Player's 'minder' |
Barman Nathaniel Lockie, 20, told the court Mr Gerrard used his left hand to pull Mr McGee's jumper over his head before launching uppercuts with his right. | Barman Nathaniel Lockie, 20, told the court Mr Gerrard used his left hand to pull Mr McGee's jumper over his head before launching uppercuts with his right. |
Mr Lockie, who was on duty on the night, claimed he thought Doran was the player's minder "by the way he presented himself". | Mr Lockie, who was on duty on the night, claimed he thought Doran was the player's minder "by the way he presented himself". |
Doran, 29, of Woodlands Road, Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue, and Paul McGrattan, 31, of Linden Drive, all Huyton, admit affray. | Doran, 29, of Woodlands Road, Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue, and Paul McGrattan, 31, of Linden Drive, all Huyton, admit affray. |
Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, of Enstone Avenue, Litherland, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Guildford Road, Southport, have also admitted affray. | Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, of Enstone Avenue, Litherland, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Guildford Road, Southport, have also admitted affray. |
John McGrattan, 34, of Rimmer Avenue, Huyton, has admitted threatening behaviour after denying affray. | John McGrattan, 34, of Rimmer Avenue, Huyton, has admitted threatening behaviour after denying affray. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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The BBC's Andy Gill explains what the alleged victim, Marcus McGee, told the court. CCTV footage shows Steven Gerrard on the night in question | The BBC's Andy Gill explains what the alleged victim, Marcus McGee, told the court. CCTV footage shows Steven Gerrard on the night in question |