Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ex-prem star in court on wife attack charge
Man Utd hero Butt to be quizzed at trial next year
FORMER Manchester United footballer Nicky Butt has denied attacking his estranged wife and smashing her mobile phone.
The ex-england midfielder, 44, is accused of assaulting Shelly and damaging her £800 iphone 7 during a row at their £4.4million home.
Butt, now head of coaching at United’s youth academy, pleaded not guilty to the charges at Manchester magistrates court yesterday.
He will face a two-day trial at the court in February in which he and Shelly will be cross-examined about their marriage.
She is believed to have suffered a cut thumb in the incident in April but did not require hospital treatment.
Prosecutor Joanne Cronshaw said: “There are a number of witnesses and the trial will take a dayand-a-half to two days.”
Butt claims the phone was “thrust” into his face during the row and he accidentally knocked it out of Shelly’s hand.
Lisa Roberts, defending, said Butt had not been given access to evidence including photographs of Shelly’s injury.
She added: “The defendant does not know how the complainant comes about her injury. There is issue as to fact and character evidence as well. It is alleged some photographs were taken of the injury but there is an absence of seeing these exhibits. Also the complainant’s demeanour at the time may become relevant.”
Ms Roberts also told the court Butt was due to go on holiday with their two children. She said: “It’s the only holiday that they have together and it has been booked and paid for.”
Butt was granted unconditional bail until his trial. A pre-trial hearing will be held in January.
District Judge James Hatton warned: “It is not unusual in domestic abuse cases for alleged history to be discussed.”
Butt and Shelly split last year and she has reverted to using her maiden name Barlow. He lives in a luxury flat while she has stayed with the children at the family home in Hale, Greater Manchester.
Lawyers for Butt released a statement saying: “Mr Butt strongly denies any allegations or suggestions of an assault and will continue to co-operate and assist with the police investigation.”
Butt won a string of Premier League titles and also played in United’s dramatic 1999 Champions League win.