MP in court on assault charges
SCOTS MP Eric Joyce yesterday pleaded not guilty to assaulting two teenage boys and causing criminal damage during a row in a London corner shop.
The 54-year-old independent MP for Falkirk appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he denied two counts of common assault and one of criminal damage.
The charges relate to an alleged incident in North London in October.
District Judge Margot Coleman conditionally bailed Joyce, a former Army major and Labour MP.
He will now face trial on May 1 over allegations he assaulted the boys and caused £200 worth of damage at News and Food Express in Chalk Farm, North London.
Speaking outside court later, Joyce said: ‘I’m fairly confident. I’m not denying the incident took place but it was caught on CCTV and will all be shown in the court so they will be able to make up their own minds. It is a question of interpretation and mine is that I was well within the law.’
Asked if he was disappointed to have to wait until May to try to clear his name, he added: ‘Yes, I didn’t realise it would be as long as that.’
The court heard the prosecution plans to call the two teenagers and the shopkeeper as witnesses to the incident, all of which was caught on CCTV.
Ernie Cohen, representing Joyce, told the court his client accepted there was an incident but denied he was at fault.
He said: ‘The defendant denied the incident took place as the victims allege.’
Asked by Judge Coleman whether the basis of the not guilty plea was self-defence, the lawyer replied: ‘Yes.’
Joyce was released on bail on the conditions he does not contact any witnesses or visit the shop.