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Prison attack halts Shannon trial for a day
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent17 Nov 2008
THE Shannon Matthews trial was halted today so that the man accused of holding her prisoner could be treated for the injuries he received in prison.
Michael Donovan, 40, was beaten up by prisoners while in custody last Thursday and appeared in the dock on Friday with a red mark on his face.
Mr Justice McCombe told Leeds crown court today: "Mr Donovan still requires some medical attention and his counsel has asked that we do not sit today."
He added: "It's sometimes what happens in prison, regrettably."
Donovan and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, deny kidnapping the nine-year-old, false imprisonment and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The trial continues tomorrow.
