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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Police 'wrong to charge Gerrard' | Police 'wrong to charge Gerrard' |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The case against Steven Gerrard, who admitted punching a man in a Merseyside bar, should never have been brought to court, his solicitor has claimed. | The case against Steven Gerrard, who admitted punching a man in a Merseyside bar, should never have been brought to court, his solicitor has claimed. |
| The Liverpool captain was cleared of affray at Liverpool Crown Court last week. Six other men admitted charges. | The Liverpool captain was cleared of affray at Liverpool Crown Court last week. Six other men admitted charges. |
| He said he was acting in self-defence when he struck Marcus McGee, 34, at the Lounge Inn, Southport, last year. | He said he was acting in self-defence when he struck Marcus McGee, 34, at the Lounge Inn, Southport, last year. |
| Solicitor Richard Green said he should not have been charged. Prosecutors said there was sufficient evidence. | Solicitor Richard Green said he should not have been charged. Prosecutors said there was sufficient evidence. |
| Mr Gerrard had been drinking with friends in the early hours of 29 December to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United. | Mr Gerrard had been drinking with friends in the early hours of 29 December to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United. |
| The 29-year-old England midfielder, from Formby, was arrested a short time later that evening and charged two days later. | The 29-year-old England midfielder, from Formby, was arrested a short time later that evening and charged two days later. |
| People thought it was just a jury verdict based on who my client actually is Richard Green, Mr Gerrard's solicitor | People thought it was just a jury verdict based on who my client actually is Richard Green, Mr Gerrard's solicitor |
| "I don't believe he ought to have been charged and I certainly don't believe he ought to have been charged on the day he was," Mr Green told BBC Radio Merseyside. | "I don't believe he ought to have been charged and I certainly don't believe he ought to have been charged on the day he was," Mr Green told BBC Radio Merseyside. |
| "Because it was absolutely clear from all of the evidence and certainly what we had been told in the police station at the time, that when he was charged the police had not seen the closed circuit television, and indeed they only had very few statements from some people who were actually there at the time. | "Because it was absolutely clear from all of the evidence and certainly what we had been told in the police station at the time, that when he was charged the police had not seen the closed circuit television, and indeed they only had very few statements from some people who were actually there at the time. |
| "So there was an incomplete picture of what had actually taken place," Mr Green added. | "So there was an incomplete picture of what had actually taken place," Mr Green added. |
| A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said that the charging decision rested with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). | |
| Sufficient evidence | Sufficient evidence |
| A CPS spokesperson said: "The case against Mr Gerrard and the six others charged with him was kept under continuing review by the CPS, as are all cases. | A CPS spokesperson said: "The case against Mr Gerrard and the six others charged with him was kept under continuing review by the CPS, as are all cases. |
| "The CPS was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to put before the jury. | "The CPS was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to put before the jury. |
| "The case ran its course and at no stage did the defence suggest that there was no case for Mr Gerrard to answer." | "The case ran its course and at no stage did the defence suggest that there was no case for Mr Gerrard to answer." |
| CCTV captured Mr Gerrard punching Mr McGee after the businessman was elbowed in the face by the footballer's friend, John Doran. | CCTV captured Mr Gerrard punching Mr McGee after the businessman was elbowed in the face by the footballer's friend, John Doran. |
| The row started over music being played in the bar | The row started over music being played in the bar |
| During the trial he told the court he "firmly believed" he was about to be punched, and swung out in self-defence. | During the trial he told the court he "firmly believed" he was about to be punched, and swung out in self-defence. |
| Mr Green said the media had gone "overboard" reporting the CCTV evidence, which led some people to express surprise at the result. | Mr Green said the media had gone "overboard" reporting the CCTV evidence, which led some people to express surprise at the result. |
| "People thought it was just a jury verdict based on who my client actually is," said Mr Green. | "People thought it was just a jury verdict based on who my client actually is," said Mr Green. |
| "Whereas if you'd actually heard all of the evidence in court - even the Crown's QC [David Turner, speaking to a local newspaper] said it was the right verdict that the jury reached." | "Whereas if you'd actually heard all of the evidence in court - even the Crown's QC [David Turner, speaking to a local newspaper] said it was the right verdict that the jury reached." |
| Six friends of Mr Gerrard admitted charges connected with the brawl and will be sentenced on 7 August. | Six friends of Mr Gerrard admitted charges connected with the brawl and will be sentenced on 7 August. |