A doorman, who appeared as a witness on Tuesday at Bristol Crown Court, has claimed that English all-rounder Ben Stokes was “spiteful and angry tone” prior to the brawl incident outside the Mbargo nightclub at Bristol on September 25, 2017 night.
The trial has begun on Monday where the footage of brawling has been shown. Stokes had a fight with 27-year-old Ryan Ali and 28-year-old Ryan Hale on that night. However, everyone has denied the charge of affray.
On Wednesday, the day three of the trial, security camera footage has been shown where Ali and Hale were walking up the road with Kai Barry and William O’Connor. At that time, Ali and Hale were holding beer bottles.
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Meanwhile, the prosecution has claimed that Barry and O’Connor are two “flamboyant, extrovert and openly gay” regulars at Mbargo club.
Andrew Cunningham, the doorman of the club, appeared as a witness and claimed both Barry and O’Connor are regulars.
On that night, Stokes was with another English cricketer Alex Hales, who has been not charged in the brawl. Cunningham described Stokes as the ‘ginger one’ and claimed that he offered him some money to enter the club, but they were not permitted as it was after 2:00 am.
Cunningham said, “The ginger one offered me £60 ($78, 67 euros) and asked me if that would get them in. He had a conversation with his friend and he said ‘£300, get us in’, and I still told them no.”
Cunningham further added that Stokes was verbally abusive toward him and was mocking his gold teeth and tattoos in a ‘spiteful and angry tone’.
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Later, the doorman said that Barry and O’Connor left the club and were talking outside the club. He mentioned that Barry and O’Connor are quite extravagant people as they are the bit more flamboyant when they talk. After observing them, Stokes started to mimic them.
Talking about that night incident, Cunningham said, “The ginger (Stokes) guy picked up on this and started to take the mick out of them. He started to mimic their actions. He didn’t speak, he just made noises to sound like them because if you hear them speak they are quite high-pitched guys.
“They are quite effeminate guys and their voices are different. He made noises to try to copy them, not saying anything just making stupid noises. Just like hand gestures… camp gestures.”
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The doorman further added that both of Barry and O’Connor were not angry at all. In next, a cigarette butt was flicked at them and Cunningham told by stepping in, “If you are going to start on someone, start on me”. Cunningham added that Hales was telling Stokes at that time to not do that.
During a cross-examination, Stokes’ lawyer Gordon Cole said, “Mr Stokes, Mr Hales, Mr Barry and Mr O’Connor are outside of the door of Mbargo together — laughing, looking to be joking. On the whole, it presents a picture of four people together. It is not homophobic behaviour, is it? For about six minutes, all together, laughing, joking, talking and then they walk away.”
In that trial, a video footage has also been shown which was described by the officer-in-charge Daniel Adams that Barry and Ali seemed to have a disagreement and soon Barry grabbed Ali around the groin area. At next, Barry was seen to walk away but returning later.
In the last week, Stokes played a crucial role in England’s victory by 31 runs against India at Edgbaston in the first Test of five-match Test series. He took four wickets at the crucial times in the fourth innings of the Test match and secured the game in a thrilling way. However, Stokes will unavailable for the second Test at Lord’s, which will begin on this Thursday (August 9), due to the ongoing trial.
