DOORMEN ‘ATTACKED SHANE WILLIAMS AND LEFT HIS BROTHER UNCONSCIOUS’
BOUNCERS at a Cardiff nightclub attacked rugby star Shane Williams and his friends while ejecting them from the venue and left his brother unconscious, a court has heard.
The former Wales and Ospreys winger was out with his brother Dean Williams and friends Rhodri Williams and Stewart Herbert in Cardiff city centre on November 2 last year for the Wales v South Africa match at the Principality Stadium.
They were drinking at the Coyote Ugly nightclub in St Mary Street just before 10pm when someone approached the group and tried to headbutt Dean Williams, a jury was told.
After seeing this incident door staff working at the venue ejected the four-man group from the premises but an altercation outside Coyote Ugly, which was caught on CCTV, culminated in Dean Williams lying unconscious on the floor.
The door staff involved – Dean Flowers, 32, of Clos-y-Carlwm, Thornhill, Cardiff; Haydn Morgan, 42, of Herbert Street, Bridgend; and Dave Wing, 53, of Shearman Place, Grangetown, Cardiff – all deny affray and are facing trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
A fourth doorman, Aled James, 26, of Richard Street, Ferndale, has pleaded guilty to one count of affray.
Opening the case yesterday, prosecutor Clare Wilks said: “On November 2, 2017, each of the defendants were working as capacity door supervisors in Cardiff city centre at the Coyote Ugly bar in St Mary Street. Earlier that day Wales had played South Africa.
“At 10pm officers were flagged down by a member of the public asking them to go to the back of Coyote Ugly.
“When the officers went to that lane they found a male unconscious on the floor. He was receiving first aid from members of the public.
“It was Dean Williams, brother of Shane Williams.
“Rhodri Williams spoke to the officers and they began to investigate what had happened.
“They seized CCTV from Coyote Ugly, The Philharmonic, and other footage. You will see footage from both inside and outside of Coyote Ugly.
“The inside footage showed the start of the incident. The group of four males at the bar are Dean Williams, Shane Williams, Rhodri Williams and Stewart Herbert.
“A male member of the public approaches the four men and there was a minor altercation.
“The man was seen to try and headbutt Dean Williams which was seen by Aled James. He went to deal with that incident and was joined by Dean Flowers. They became involved in a tussle with the four.
“CCTV picks them up in a hallway inside the club where Aled James manhandled Shane Williams, ripped his jacket from him as they tried to get him and the rest of the group towards the top of the stairs.
“Another camera shows them by the fire exit and being pushed through the door and into the lane.
“The main violence occurred outside Coyote Ugly when the group are outside in the street.
“Aled James comes out and he’s seen repeatedly punching one of the Williams group while they’re on the floor.
“Dean Flowers repeatedly punches one of the males pushed against a wall. After the assault he’s seen flexing his fingers and inside the club he’s laughing and joking.
“Dave Wing kicked Dean Williams on the floor outside in the lane and kneels on the floor by him and puts him in a headlock and continues to hold him in that way until Dean Williams is tapping to let go but Dave Wing doesn’t relax his grip until Mr Williams passes out unconscious on the floor.
“The actions of Haydn Morgan, the prosecution say, is he’s seen on CCTV footage punching and kicking one of the Williams group.”
Ms Wilks added: “The prosecution say each of these defendants were acting as trained doormen and each had a duty of care to eject patrons of the club in a safe manner. Once they went into that lane the behaviour of each of them falls below that standard and was unlawful.”
The first witness in the case was Rhodri Williams, who was questioned by Ms Wilks about the night in question.
He said: “From the outset the atmosphere was good – we had a lot of attention being with Shane and there were a lot people who came up to him to take pictures. It was a good atmosphere.
“Later on one member of the public took a dislike to one of us and from nowhere he headbutted Dean and the events that happened afterwards came from there.”
Defence barrister Kevin Seal, representing Flowers, asked Rhodri Williams how much he had to drink that night. The witness said he had between six to eight pints of lager and admitted being drunk.
Mr Seal claimed Rhodri Williams and Shane and Dean Williams were “angry and aggressive” outside in the alleyway and were taunting the door staff.
He said: “What’s happened is you and your friends have been ejected from a nightclub, rightly or wrongly, that’s what’s happened, you’re not welcome there anymore, it’s been a long day of drinking and there are still places open.
“Did you think your behaviour, your physical and verbal behaviour, was acceptable?”
Rhodri Williams said: “I was frustrated. I thought at the time we were thrown out for the wrong reason.”
Peter Donnison, representing Morgan, also asked Rhodri Williams about the incident.
He said: “Did you recall Shane or Dean Williams throwing their arms towards doormen or resisting when the doormen tried to escort them out?”
The witness said: “At the top of the stairs there was bit of an incident.”
Mr Donnison added: “You and your group of friends continued to be aggressive, angry, banging doors and throwing punches at the doormen. Did you see Shane Williams throw a punch at doormen and slam the door at the bouncer?”
The witness said: “I don’t recall. I was very drunk.”
Concluding his questioning, Mr Donnison said: “Do you agree Shane Williams was very drunk on that evening and Dean Williams was very drunk on that evening? And do you accept both of them were behaving in an aggressive manner?”
The witness said: “No.”
The trial continues.