England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes lost his self-control and knocked two men out in a street fight last September, a court heard on Monday as his trial for brawl started. Stokes, acting in “revenge, retaliation or punishment”, was involved in a “sustained episode of significant violence”, prosecutor Nicholas Corsellis told a jury at Bristol Crown Court in southwest England.
Recently, England defeated India in the series opener of the 5-match Test series and Stokes was one of the crucial cogs for his team in that match. However, now he has been put into a trial alongside 27-year-old Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, 28. They each deny the charge of affray.
They had all been drinking inside a Bristol nightclub. The fight took place outside after 2:00 am on September 25 last year, the prosecutor said. He also alleged that they were all involved in threatening and/or using unlawful violence towards each other.
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Corsellis said only the defendants knew how the fight instigated and it could have been stopped very quickly. He elaborated, “During the incident, Mr. Stokes lost his control and started to attack with revenge, retaliation or punishment in mind. He knocked Mr. Hale unconscious and then — after time to pause for thought, to calm — he did exactly the same to Mr. Ali. Mr. Ali received significant injuries including a fractured eye socket and required hospital treatment.”
The Prosecutor elaborated, “This was not a trivial moment of unpleasantness. It was a sustained episode of significant violence that left onlookers shocked at what was taking place. A bottle was used at the beginning by Mr. Ali and a broken street sign brought into the fray towards the end by Mr. Hale.”
The prosecutor said the three defendants were all young men of promise.
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Corsellis explained, “Ben Stokes is a professional cricket player who has reached the top of his profession and represented his country. Equally, Mr. Ali has worked for the emergency services and Mr. Hale has served his country in the armed forces. It almost goes without saying, but past success, fame or good deeds does not absolve you from your duty — and the law — to behave yourself.”
Because of the brawl, Stokes has to miss the Ashes series against Australia last years and without him, England lost the series 4-0. He has since played in the Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan. The trial is expected to last between five and seven days.
The second Test between England and India, at Lord’s in London, starts on Thursday and Ben is bound to miss the game due to the trial.
