Rugby star trial jury discharged

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The jury in the trial of England rugby union star Lesley Vainikolo has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict.

Mr Vainikolo, 30, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm, after fracturing a fan's skull on a players' night out in Bath.

The player accepted he had punched Jake Alicker, 25, but told Bristol Crown Court he had acted in self-defence.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it would be seeking a retrial.

After deliberating for almost four-and-a-half hours, the 11-person jury told the court that with more time it would not reach a majority verdict, and was subsequently discharged by Judge Mark Horton.

Judge Horton said the new trial date was likely to be fixed for the first week of January.