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John Terry's father racial abuse claims 'embellished' | John Terry's father racial abuse claims 'embellished' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A man allegedly racially abused by footballer John Terry's father has denied in court that he "embellished" his story to sell it to the papers. | A man allegedly racially abused by footballer John Terry's father has denied in court that he "embellished" his story to sell it to the papers. |
Ted Terry, 59, allegedly attacked railway worker Amarjit Talafair in the City of London on 22 March. | Ted Terry, 59, allegedly attacked railway worker Amarjit Talafair in the City of London on 22 March. |
Mr Talafair told the Old Bailey that Mr Terry racially abused him, but he admitted swearing at Mr Terry and calling him bald and fat. | Mr Talafair told the Old Bailey that Mr Terry racially abused him, but he admitted swearing at Mr Terry and calling him bald and fat. |
The Chelsea captain's father, from Grays, Essex, denies the charges. | The Chelsea captain's father, from Grays, Essex, denies the charges. |
Selling the story | Selling the story |
Stephen Niland, 36, and Tudor Musteata, 47, are also accused of racially abusing Mr Talafair. | Stephen Niland, 36, and Tudor Musteata, 47, are also accused of racially abusing Mr Talafair. |
The alleged victim said Mr Terry had approached him and asked for a cigarette in a fake eastern European accent, before abusing him and attempting to headbutt him. | |
The court heard Mr Talafair reported the incident to the police the next day after researching Mr Terry online. | The court heard Mr Talafair reported the incident to the police the next day after researching Mr Terry online. |
He also admitted asking officers about taking his story to the newspapers, but was told it would interfere with the investigation. | He also admitted asking officers about taking his story to the newspapers, but was told it would interfere with the investigation. |
Alexia Power, for the defence, asked Mr Talafair: "You have embellished this with racial abuse because of who he is, haven't you? | Alexia Power, for the defence, asked Mr Talafair: "You have embellished this with racial abuse because of who he is, haven't you? |
"You are saying this now because you want to sell your story to the papers, aren't you?" | "You are saying this now because you want to sell your story to the papers, aren't you?" |
Mr Talafair said: "No - you can't abuse someone for the colour of their skin and have an argument just because I'm Asian and try and assault me." | Mr Talafair said: "No - you can't abuse someone for the colour of their skin and have an argument just because I'm Asian and try and assault me." |
He told the court he had sworn at Mr Terry and called him fat. "I did, yes, because I was angry, I did say that," he said. | |
Cigarette row | Cigarette row |
Mr Talafair, who worked as a customer services worker for railway firm C2C, told the court he had been celebrating a colleague's birthday at a pub on the afternoon of the alleged attack. | Mr Talafair, who worked as a customer services worker for railway firm C2C, told the court he had been celebrating a colleague's birthday at a pub on the afternoon of the alleged attack. |
He told the court he was not injured whether Mr Terry headbutted him because he moved back, but if he did not "[Mr Terry] would have broke my nose or something". | |
A cleaner at Fenchurch Street station, Bakeba Mansuila, told the court that he had also been racially abused as Mr Terry's group left the pub. | |
The court heard that Mr Mansuila, who was drinking from a bottle of rum, approached the group and one of the men, who was not Mr Terry, turned around and said: "What are you going to do with that bottle mate?" | |
Railway station worker David Bridson told the court he saw Mr Terry take the bottle of rum that Mr Mansuila had been drinking and make racist threats towards him. | |
"I was in the middle of both of them and I actually held the bottle to stop him from doing anything," Mr Bridson said. | |
Mr Bridson said that he saw Mr Terry at Fenchurch Street station six days later and overheard him saying on his mobile phone: "When the police call, tell them I never said those things." | |
Mr Terry denies one count of racially-aggravated common assault and one count of racially-aggravated fear or provocation of violence. | Mr Terry denies one count of racially-aggravated common assault and one count of racially-aggravated fear or provocation of violence. |
Mr Niland, from Romford, Essex, and Mr Musteata, from Greenwich, south-east London, each deny one count of racially-aggravated fear or provocation of violence. | Mr Niland, from Romford, Essex, and Mr Musteata, from Greenwich, south-east London, each deny one count of racially-aggravated fear or provocation of violence. |