Ben Stokes trial today - as it happened: Cricketer says he was 'talking to God' in CCTV footage
All-rounder accused of punching two men during alleged brawl in Bristol
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Ben Stokes has told his trial for punching two people in the street outside a nightclub that he was not shouting in anger at a bouncer moments before the alleged attack — and may in fact have been talking to God.
The 27-year-old England cricketer is accused of punching Ryan Hale, 27, and Ryan Ali, 28, during an alleged brawl in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol on 25 September last year.
Stokes, an all-rounder who plays for Durham, is jointly accused of affray alongside Ali. Mr Hale was acquitted of the same charge by the jury of six men and six women on the direction of the judge on Thursday.
Giving evidence for a second day, Stokes insisted footage recorded on CCTV outside the Mbargo nightspot did not show him shouting and pointing angrily at bouncer Andrew Cunningham after the doorman had refused him entry, then refused to shake his hand.
"I don't think you can tell if I'm angry," Stokes insisted under cross-examination.
Who is who
- Ben Stokes - Cricketer accused of punching Ryan Hale and Ryan Ali
- Ryan Ali - Jointly accused of affray alongside Stokes
- Ryan Hale - Acquitted of affray
- Kai Barry and William O'Connor - Gay couple who Stokes insists he stepped in to protect
- James Anderson, Jake Ball and Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett and Jonny Bairstow - Teammates of Stokes
- Andrew Cunningham - Door supervisor at the Mbargo nightclub
- Mark Spure - Off-duty police community support officer who told court Stokes had been 'main aggressor'
When Nicholas Corsellis, prosecuting, asked what Stokes had in fact been looking at, he said: "I might just be looking at the night sky."
Mr Corsellis said: "Who were you speaking to when you were looking at the night sky?"
Stokes replied: "God?"
Mr Corsellis asked: "Mr Stokes, you are just in front of the jury, trying to cover up your actions. You know you were angry and this CCTV was you looking angry, isn't it?"
Stokes answered: "No."
He told the jury he would have had at least 10 drinks that night - a bottle of beer after the game, two or three pints back at the hotel with a meal and five or six vodka and lemonades while out in Bristol.
He said he "potentially had some Jaegerbombs" at the club, in addition to the beer and vodka.
The cricketer said he intervened because Ali and his friend, Ryan Hale, were directing homophobic abuse at two gay men, William O'Connor and Kai Barry, but he said he could not remember what the words were.
He told the court he had not mocked or been homophobic towards Mr Barry and Mr O'Connor and said he could not remember flicking his cigarette butt at them.
Stokes also denied making a comment about Mr Cunningham's gold teeth, and said he told him: "Come on mate, I've got s*** tattoos as well."
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
The trial continues.
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage as Ben Stokes continues to give evidence at the fifth day of his trial at Bristol Crown Court.
Yesterday, Stokes told the court he felt "under threat" at all times when he knocked two men unconscious during a fight near a nightclub.
He denied claims he mocked two gay men, Kai Barry and William O'Connor, outside the Mbargo nightclub and flicked a cigarette butt at them.
Instead, he insisted he had stepped in to protect Mr Barry and Mr O'Connor after hearing his friends, Ryan Hale and Ryan Ali - who had a glass bottle - shout homophobic abuse at them.
Stokes said he took a swing at Ali, before the men tussled and fell to the floor. Mr Hale then came up behind him and grabbed him.
"There were arms around the top of my body, arms around my legs and trying to keep me down on the floor," he told the court.
The cricketer said he got back to his feet and saw Mr Hale stood in front of him.
"I felt under threat by these two and felt I had to do whatever it was to keep myself and others around me safe," he said.
Ben Stokes is currently being cross-examined.
He has been accused of "hiding behind" his failure to remember certain details of what led up to the fight.
The prosecution suggested he had "launched a retaliatory attack" against Ali and Mr Hale, but Stokes insists his actions "were in self-defence."
Stokes says he "would not offer £300 to get back to even the best club," denying claims he offered £60 and then £300 to get back into the Mbargo in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol.
Now he is talking about his tattoos, admitting the three lions on his back "could have been done better."
The doorman of the club, Mr Cunningham, said Stokes abused him by telling him he had "s*** tattoos," but Stokes said it was "banter" rather than abuse.
Asked if he was telling the truth about the amount of alcohol he had on the night of the fight, he "could have had a few Jaegerbombs" inside Mbargo, in addition to the beer and vodka he previously said he had.
Prosecutors have accused Stokes of "lying to the jury" about what they say is CCTV footage of him throwing a cigarette towards a gay couple.
He was also accused of "not telling the truth to this jury" about the "mimicking and mocking" he claims Mr Hale and Ali directed at the couple.
Stokes says he is "very clear" the words used "were homophobic."
Stokes says he cannot recall the words used in what he says was homophobic abuse directed by Mr Hale and Ali towards a gay couple.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.