Man denies attacking woman with bottle

A Hamilton man went on trial this week accused of attacking his former partner with a broken bottle.

Paul Francis Bell denied a charge of assaulting Amanda Gribben to her injury at her Marswood Green home in the town on April 15 this year.

The 29-year-old also lodged a special defence of self defence on Monday, the first day of the trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, stating that he had been attacked by Miss Gribben.

The charge alleges that Bell shouted and swore at Ms Gribben, seized her by the body and tripped her, causing her to fall to the ground.

He is also accused of pressing his fingers on her eyes, uttering threats of violence, seizing her by the hair, head-butting her, and repeatedly striking her on the face with a broken bottle.

Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Gribben told the jury that she suffered from memory loss since she had been involved in a serious road accident involving a lorry.

The accident, she said, had occurred before she had the short relationship with the accused.

Questioned by fiscal depute Michael Macintosh, Ms Gribben told the court that they had been drinking and arguing that day at her Marswood Green home.

She agreed with a suggestion by the fiscal depute behaviour that day unpleasant.

Mr Macintosh asked Ms Gribben if she could recall speaking to police after the incident and she replied that she did not.

The fiscal depute, however, asked the witness for her response if police officers said they had spoken to her at her home on a number of occasions that night.

Ms Griben replied: “If they are saying that, it must be true.” that Bell’s had been

He also asked Ms Gribben if a Constable Chris Armstrong were to tell the court he spoke to her at 4.20am on April 15 what her reaction would be.

She said: “If he says that he’s not going to be a liar.”

Ms Gribben, however, insisted she had been drunk that night and could not remember talking to police.

The trial before Sheriff Ray Small was continuing yesterday (Wednesday).