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England footballer Steven Gerrard not guilty of affray
Ben Bailey24 Jul 2009
England football star Steven Gerrard was dramatically cleared of affray today by a Liverpool jury.
The Liverpool captain had faced the threat of prison if he had been found guilty of attacking businessman Marcus McGee, 34, in a row over music.
But even though CCTV footage showed Mr McGee being felled in “an explosion of violence”, Gerrard walked free from court to applause from fans and shouts of “Come on Rocky”.
The 29-year-old was with friends at the Lounge Inn in Southport, Merseyside, in the early hours in December last year when his party clashed with
Mr McGee, who was a member of another group, when he asked Mr McGee to give him control of the club's CD player.
The prosecution at Liverpool crown court said Gerrard, from Formby, Merseyside, became furious that his request was refused and “lost it”, punching Mr McGee “with the style and speed of a professional boxer”.
Gerrard had told police he had struck out three times and had been drunk on a scale of seven out of 10.
Gerrard denied affray and in the witness box claimed he was acting in selfdefence, having mistakenly believed Mr McGee was about to attack him. He refused to accept that he had lost his
self control at any time.
Five of Gerrard's friends had already admitted affray.
They are Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, John Doran, 29, and Paul McGrattan, 31, all of Huyton, and Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, of Litherland and Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Southport.
Another friend, John McGrattan, 34, of Huyton, admitted threatening behaviour.
In his summing-up Judge Henry Globe QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, described the events at the Lounge Inn as an “explosion of violence”.
He said it had been a short trial in relation to an even shorter incident but added: “The shortness of the trial does not mean the case is unimportant.
“It is of considerable importance to all parties — Marcus McGee, Steven Gerrard and everyone who became involved in the explosion of violence at the Lounge Inn bar in Southport last
December.”
Before sending the jury out to consider their verdict, Judge Globe appealed to them: “Put aside any football loyalty for impartiality and try the case on the evidence.”
Gerrard showed no emotion when the jury foreman delivered the not guilty verdict after 70 minutes of deliberation.
Judge Globe told the footballer: The verdict is a credible verdict on the full facts of this case, and you walk away with your reputation intact.”
As Gerrard left the court he said: “Can I just say how pleased I am with today's verdict.
“I'd like to put this case behind me. I'm really looking forward to the season ahead and concentrating on football.”
He added: “I'd like to say a big thank you to my legal team, my friends and family and to everyone at Liverpool Football Club for supporting me.”
