Cricket star Stokes to face trial over nightclub brawl
ENGLAND cricketer Ben Stokes has pleaded not guilty to affray over a clash outside a nightclub, in which he claims he was defending two men who suffered homophobic abuse.
The 26-year-old will now face a crown court trial and up to three years in prison if he is convicted.
He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court yesterday, along with former soldier Ryan Hale, 26, and Hale’s friend Ryan Ali, 28, a security guard.
All three are accused of fighting outside a Bristol nightclub in the early hours of September 25 last year.
Footage of the brawl appeared to show Hale being punched by Stokes, who had been celebrating a win over the West Indies with his England teammates. A 27-year-old man was left with a broken eye socket after the incident, at which fellow England cricketer Alex Hales was also present.
It has been claimed the fight started after Stokes came to the aid of two gay men who were victims of homophobic abuse from clubbers.
The all-rounder, from Castle Eden, County Durham, appeared composed as he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, nationality and address, and to plead not guilty yesterday.
Ali and Hale, from Bristol, also pleaded not guilty on the grounds of ‘self-defence and defence of another’. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed Stokes will travel to New Zealand today, where the England team are scheduled to have five oneday games between February 25 and March 9. He has been suspended by the ECB and is not available for the current T20 series, but could play the other New Zealand matches.
Stokes’s next hearing will be on March 12, but he will not be required to attend.