Cleared veteran: I could have died

AN AFGHANISTAN veteran accused of affray alongside Ben Stokes was dramatically cleared yesterday, after the court heard how he feared the England cricketer ‘could have killed’ him.

Judge Peter Blair QC said there was insufficient evidence to justify trying Ryan Hale, 27, for affray, Bristol Crown Court was told. Judge Blair, the Recorder of Bristol, directed the jury to formally clear the former 2 Battalion Rifles serviceman, who was ‘laid out’ by Stokes for no clear reason, prosecutors say.

Mr Hale said he was ‘happy’ with the decision, adding: ‘I am not willing to talk about the case until it is over.’ He left the court with his friend, Ryan Ali, who remains on trial over the same incident.

Mr Hale had told detectives in an interview: ‘Watching the video was shocking. I’m a dad. He could have killed me. I don’t know why he didn’t stop.’