Liverpool legal team secures acquittal of England cricketer
A legal team from Liverpool this afternoon secured the acquittal of England cricketer Ben Stokes on charges of affray.
Mr Stokes was represented in court by Gordon Cole, QC, from Exchange Chambers in Liverpool.
His solicitor was Paul Lunt, head of litigation (Liverpool) at Brabners.
A jury at Bristol Crown Court acquitted the 27-year-old Durham all-rounder after he gave evidence saying he had acted in self-defence.
Mr Stokes was on trial, alongside Ryan Ali, 28, who was cleared of the same charge.
A third man, Ryan Hale, 27, was acquitted of the charge last Thursday on the directions of the judge, Peter Blair QC.
Defending Mr Stokes, Gordon Cole QC, told the jury it was up to the prosecution to prove he had not acted in self-defence, but there were gaps in the evidence that should cause the jury to be “massively concerned”.
He said Mr Stokes had been consistent that he had acted in self-defence from the moment of his arrest, which happened after a night out with his teammates after England’s victory over the West Indies in a one-day match in the city.
Mr Cole also questioned if his client had been the focus of the prosecution because of his status.
Gordon Cole QC specialises in all serious crime, including murder, manslaughter, drugs, fraud, police corruption and serious sexual abuse.
He has specialised in crime for more than 35 years and has both prosecuted and defended in all types of cases as a junior, a leading junior and in Silk.
Mr Cole has been involved in many substantial drug, murder and fraud cases many of which have been VHCC (very high cost case) cases.
He has conducted cases all over the country and has considerable experience in cases which have been heard in the Court of Appeal.
Ranked as a leader in his field by the independent legal directories, he is described by instructing solicitors as “unflappable” and “outstanding” with “great judgement and common sense”.
