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Footballer 'punched Good Samaritan' after 'sex claims' | Footballer 'punched Good Samaritan' after 'sex claims' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A Championship footballer "upset" over claims he had sex with a woman punched a Good Samaritan who tried to intervene, a court has heard. | |
Nottingham Forest striker Darius Henderson was out with his girlfriend when a woman claimed she had had sex with him, St Albans Crown Court heard. | Nottingham Forest striker Darius Henderson was out with his girlfriend when a woman claimed she had had sex with him, St Albans Crown Court heard. |
John Bell, 42, who was in the same restaurant in St Albans, was allegedly hit when he tried to calm Mr Henderson. | John Bell, 42, who was in the same restaurant in St Albans, was allegedly hit when he tried to calm Mr Henderson. |
Mr Henderson, 31, of Markyate, Herts, denies causing grievous bodily harm. | Mr Henderson, 31, of Markyate, Herts, denies causing grievous bodily harm. |
The court heard Mr Bell suffered a cut to his left eye and a fractured cheek bone, which required surgery. | The court heard Mr Bell suffered a cut to his left eye and a fractured cheek bone, which required surgery. |
Mr Henderson, of Green Lane, and Lucy Caplan were at Darcy's in St Albans on New Year's Eve 2011 when Hazel Kent confronted them. | Mr Henderson, of Green Lane, and Lucy Caplan were at Darcy's in St Albans on New Year's Eve 2011 when Hazel Kent confronted them. |
Prosecutor Alan Richards said she behaved "somewhat unpleasantly" and said had recently had sex with Mr Henderson. | Prosecutor Alan Richards said she behaved "somewhat unpleasantly" and said had recently had sex with Mr Henderson. |
'Posed no threat' | 'Posed no threat' |
She claimed she could describe his home and correctly identified the brand of his boxer shorts. | She claimed she could describe his home and correctly identified the brand of his boxer shorts. |
"There is no reason to believe that this was anything other than pure fiction, but Ms Kent persisted," said Mr Richards. | "There is no reason to believe that this was anything other than pure fiction, but Ms Kent persisted," said Mr Richards. |
The court heard Miss Caplan was understandably upset and Mr Henderson was keen for them to be left alone. | The court heard Miss Caplan was understandably upset and Mr Henderson was keen for them to be left alone. |
Mr Bell, who was in the restaurant with his partner and friends, spoke to Mr Henderson at the bar in the early hours of 1 January, 2012. | Mr Bell, who was in the restaurant with his partner and friends, spoke to Mr Henderson at the bar in the early hours of 1 January, 2012. |
A member of staff believed he was acting as a "Good Samaritan" and trying to calm things down, the court heard. | A member of staff believed he was acting as a "Good Samaritan" and trying to calm things down, the court heard. |
Mr Richards said it was possible the "angered and upset" Mr Henderson believed Mr Bell was somehow connected to Ms Kent, but Mr Bell had posed "no threat whatsoever". | Mr Richards said it was possible the "angered and upset" Mr Henderson believed Mr Bell was somehow connected to Ms Kent, but Mr Bell had posed "no threat whatsoever". |
"Even if his intervention was unwelcome it could not even begin to justify what Mr Henderson then did," he said. | "Even if his intervention was unwelcome it could not even begin to justify what Mr Henderson then did," he said. |
"He punched Mr Bell in the head twice. | "He punched Mr Bell in the head twice. |
"It is unclear whether the first blow actually connected with Mr Bell, but the second certainly did. | "It is unclear whether the first blow actually connected with Mr Bell, but the second certainly did. |
"Mr Bell was knocked to the floor." | "Mr Bell was knocked to the floor." |
Mr Henderson, who was playing for Championship-side Millwall at the time, signed for Nottingham Forest on a free transfer in January this year. | Mr Henderson, who was playing for Championship-side Millwall at the time, signed for Nottingham Forest on a free transfer in January this year. |
He began his senior playing career as an 18-year-old at Reading in 1999 and has also played for Gillingham, Sheffield United and Watford. | He began his senior playing career as an 18-year-old at Reading in 1999 and has also played for Gillingham, Sheffield United and Watford. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |