5:34pm Friday 5th April 2013
A MAN has been cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon a reveller who was left brain damaged after an altercation outside a takeaway.
Alexander Wilson, 24, was today found not guilty of GBH by a jury after a three day trial at Amersham Crown Court.
Mr Wilson’s family and friends cheered and broke down in tears as the foreman delivered the jury’s verdict. One shouted: “Justice”.
Thomas Harding, 22, sustained a fractured skull and was left with permanent brain damage following the incident outside Pizza Go Go in Castle Street, High Wycombe, in the early hours of July 29.
Michael Wolkind QC, defending, said Mr Wilson - who denied the charge - had punched Mr Harding once in self defence.
It was alleged Mr Harding spat at the former phone shop manager and threatened to "smash" him, but none of the witnesses who gave evidence said they saw or heard Mr Harding act in that way.
Rossano Scamardella, prosecuting, told the court Mr Harding - who had just been kicked out of the Scorpios Bar where he had been drinking that night - had been subjected to abuse about his sexuality and had a bin bag thrown at him by a girl with Mr Wilson prior to the incident.
Mr Scamardella told the jury it wasn't in doubt that Mr Wilson had struck Mr Harding, before adding: "The question for us is to decide if he was acting in lawful self defence."
The jury unanimously returned a verdict of not guilty after almost three hours of deliberation and Mr Wilson, who was dressed in a smart suit, was freed by Mr Recorder Sandeep Kainth.
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