Glow star cleared of attacking man outside takeawayshop
GLOW star Brian Matthews has been cleared of attacking a man outside a takeaway shop.
The 35-year-old reality star went on trial at Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace Court accused of repeatedly punching Martin Morrison at High Street on June 14, 2016.
Matthews admitted shouting and swearing at Mr Morrison after he caused a dent in his car, but never hit him.
He said Mr Morrison was “lying flat” on the road when he then came out of Chilli Thrill takeaway and he attempted to help him up.
And, when that didn’t work, stood over him and continued to shout at him to “get up” and said “you’re going to get the two of us killed”.
After evidence was lead by witnesses, but not Mr Morrison, Matthews was found not guilty of the alleged assault.
In evidence Matthews, who told the court he was a plumber, said he was waiting on a takeaway when he “heard a thud” on the side of his car.
He said he got out and saw a “really drunk” man, a dent on his car and admitted he was angry.
Matthews said: “We were shouting at each other, it was a big argument. I’m pointing to it saying ‘look what you’ve done to my car’. He said ‘I’ll pay for your car’, he almost fell over again.”
Matthews told how he went into the kebab shop for his order and returned, still angry, to find the man lying on the road.
He said: “I got the shirt collar trying to pull him up.”
The court heard he “gave up” trying to lift him but he repeatedly shouted at him to get up and pointed at him. He left the scene after a bin lorry appeared and workers moved the man to the side of the road.
Matthews said as he drove off he saw flashing lights and returned to see if the police could give him a statement for his insurance and was then accused by them of carrying out an assault.
Defence lawyer Douglas McAllister asked: “Did you repeatedly punch him on the head?” He replied: “No.”
He said: “The boy couldn’t even protect himself, he was defenceless, I’m not going to hit the boy, the boy could hardly stand.”
Refuse worker Patrick Strain, 52, claimed he saw Matthews kneeling on top of a man with his arms flailing. He told fiscal depute Emily Macreath he and colleagues drove from Saltmarket to High Street and saw Matthews and Mr Morrison on the road.
Mr Strain described Matthews as “kneeling on his chest reigning blows down on him”.
He said he saw this “at least six times” before getting out of his bin lorry with colleagues.
Mr Strain said Matthews went into the kebab shop then returned with a takeaway.
The witness confirmed to Mr McAllister he didn’t see any blows connecting with Mr Morrison’s face. And, that there was no visible injuries, or blood.
Mr McAllister said: “Mr Matthews’ position is, he was very angry, he was shouting and swearing at this intoxicated man who according to him, had damaged his vehicle.
“He was leaning over him shouting and bawling about the fact he’s damaged his car – is there any way that could be the case?”
Mr Strain replied: ”I suppose it could be.”