The trial of an Oxford bouncer charged with pushing a drunken reveller has been stopped due to a lack of evidence.
Leonard Hoxha, of Ashmole Place, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court.
The 44-year-old pleaded not guilty to one count of grievous bodily harm.
The alleged incident took place on April 19, 2023 outside Thirst Bar in Park End Street. Hoxha is accused of wounding Luke Bryan.
The jury heard that on April 18, Mr Bryan had travelled from Bristol to Oxford to watch a football match at the Kassam Stadium between Oxford United and Portsmouth with friends.
After the game, Mr Bryan and two friends went into the city and tried to get into a number of bars. They ended up at Thirst Bar at around midnight.
The jury heard that a bottle of Champagne was bought. Hoxha was working as a bouncer at the bar along with a man called Aaron Sadler.
After they saw that Mr Bryan was swaying around, they attempted to remove him from the bar, the court was told.
The jury was shown CCTV of the two bouncers, along with the manager of the bar removing Mr Bryan.
Once outside, Mr Bryan ended up on the ground. The prosecution’s case was that Hoxha pushed him.
The jury heard that Mr Bryan hit his head and elbow. Hoxha and Mr Sadler then attempted to give first aid and Mr Bryan was taken to hospital.
He was discharged one week later. Hoxha was arrested in connection with the incident and gave no comment in interview.
A statement provided by one of Mr Bryan’s friends, Martin Stone, was read to the jury.
Mr Stone’s statement said: “I saw bouncers grabbing hold of Luke. I thought the bouncers seemed a bit too aggressive.
“Luke was laying in a gutter, bleeding from his head. I held tissue to his head to try and stop the bleeding.
“Luke was not acting aggressive to anyone. He was his laid-back self.”
At the end of the prosecution’s evidence, the defence barrister Elizabeth Lambert applied to stop the trial due to a lack of evidence. This was permitted by Judge Michael Roques.
Judge Roques told the jury: “The law says that at the close of the prosecution case, the defence can apply that the evidence is so weak that it can’t be left for a jury.
“The case is only framed on the push right at the end of the incident.
“I have formed the view you can’t say it was a push. The defendant put his hand on the complainant’s back.
“Everyone agrees he was entitled to use some force to get the drunken individual out of the bar.
“In these circumstances, there is not enough evidence in this case for you to say the defendant is guilty.”
The Judge told the jury the prosecution had 24 hours to decide if the decision would be appealed.
Source – Oxford News