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Amy Winehouse not guilty of assault
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent24.07.09
Amy Winehouse was cleared today of punching a dancer at a Mayfair ball in aid of one of Prince Charles's charities.
Burlesque dancer Sherene Flash claimed the 25-year-old hit her in the right eye after she asked the singer for a photograph while backstage at the Prince's Trust Ball in Berkeley
Square last September.
But District Judge Timothy Workman at City of Westminster magistrates' court dismissed the case
against Winehouse today.
Winehouse looked confused and shrugged her shoulders as the verdict was read out. The star did not leave the dock until her solicitor appeared to clarify the not guilty verdict.
As she left the courtroom, she said: “I'm relieved. I'm going home.” Delivering his verdict, the judge said: “Having heard the evidence from all the witnesses, I cannot be sure that this was not an accident.
The charge is dismissed and the defendant discharged.” After the verdict, Winehouse was ushered away by her father Mitch and minders through a pack of photographers.
Outside court, her spokesman said: “Amy would like to thank her family, friends and legal team for their support. She's always maintained her
innocence and is very happy to put the episode behind her.”
The singer, who was charged with assault, had told the court she felt intimidated when Miss Flash leaned over and put her arm around her.
Winehouse would have been happy to pose for a picture with Miss Flash but had asked her to wait for a couple of minutes while she said goodbye to a friend, the court heard.
Winehouse denied punching Miss Flash in the face but said: “I pushed her up, like away. I wanted her away from me. I meant to just get her away
from me. I was scared. I thought People are mad these days, people can't handle their drink'.”
She said: “She lunged at me and put her arm around me. She was just drunk. It was intimidating. I think she was being overly friendly but that was intimidating. I was scared. I'm not Mickey Mouse, I'm a human being.”
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