Back in September 2017, England player Ben Stokes was involved in a bar brawl in Bristol. The all-rounder had been accused of punching 27-year old Ryan Hale, 27 and knocking out 28-year old Ryan Ali.
Ali sustained a broken eye socket, fractured tooth, a cut to his eyebrow and bruising to his face during the altercation. Meanwhile, Hale only suffered a superficial head wound for his troubles.
After a lengthy trial, Stokes was adjudged not guilty and acting in self defence. However, Twitter wasn’t as forgiving.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Ben Stokes found not guilty. Ladies and gentleman of the UK, you officially have permission to beat the living fuck out of each other and get away with it. #benstokes
— Matt (@f_fitzy) August 14, 2018
So #BenStokes jury has a chat today. Defence for Stokes wants him found not guilty on the basis that no one knows of he or Hales knocked the matey out. He's being charged with affray not knocking matey out. Affray makes no reference to specific injuries in its definition.
— Matt (@MLTT82) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/RETURNOFTHEMORT/status/1029336361072046080
Any joe public caught in camera fighting like Ben stokes would have been charged end of . Preferential celebrity treatment , joke ! #BenStokes
— Tangiblehacks (@tangiblehacks) August 14, 2018
#BenStokes not guilty of affray!!! Must have been the same jury that reduced the #Morelos red card to a yellow. #sevco #scottishfa #really
— Kevin Moran♛ (@KevinMoranEsq) August 14, 2018
Crown Prosecution Service will face questions about why they charged #BenStokes with affray and not causing actual bodily harm. Crown tried to add this charge on first morning of the trial but judge ruled it was too late – 11 months after the brawl.
— Ian Woods (@IanWoodsSky) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/AshGriffo_/status/1029338074285793280
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Outrageous! Most amount of evidence ever presented in a case like this and a no guilty verdict! @englandcricket surely must ban him from ever playing for the country. Or do you condone this behaviour? #BenStokes #cricket
— T C (@rafachristie909) August 14, 2018
What a monumental waste of public money the #benstokes trial has proven to be. 7-day trial, one Defendant with no case to answer and the other two not guilty by unanimous verdict after only 2.5 hour deliberation. Did CPS decide to prosecute because of Stokes’s profile..?
— James (@deepelmjimmy) August 14, 2018
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad