Ben Stokes cleared of affray outside Bristol nightclub
Within hours of the verdict, the England Cricket Board said Stokes would be included in the squad to play India in the third Test.
Tuesday 14 August 2018 17:35, UK
England cricketer Ben Stokes has been found not guilty of affray following a fight outside a nightclub.
A jury acquitted the 27-year-old after a seven-day trial which heard Stokes was acting in self-defence when he punched two men.
Within hours of the verdict, the England Cricket Board (ECB) said Stokes would be included in their squad to play India in the third Test.
He was dropped during the winter Ashes tour to Australia after he was charged with assault following the brawl in September last year.
Stokes still faces ECB disciplinary proceedings but, after the jury came back with their verdicts having deliberated for just three hours, the Durham all-rounder is hoping to make cricket has main focus.
His lawyer told the reporters outside the court: "Over the last week, the jury have been able to see and hear all of the evidence.
"The evidence available to the jury included the full range of CCTV footage that shows exactly what happened in September. The jury's decision that Ben is not guilty fairly reflects the truth of what happened in Bristol that night.
"His intervention that night has already cost Ben the England vice-captaincy, his place on an Ashes tour and his place on a number of other England matches.
"The past 11 months have served to highlight to Ben just how highly he values his position as an England representative.
"Now that the trial is over, Ben is keen to get back to cricket being his sole focus."
The trial heard that Stokes was on a night out with other England cricketers after a win when he tried to re-enter a nightclub he had earlier visited.
Who exactly was responsible for starting the fight is unclear, but Stokes said he intervened when two gay men received homophobic abuse outside the Mbargo nightclub, in the Clifton area of Bristol.
The cricketer had "at least 10 drinks" before the row, which included a bottle of beer, two or three pints of lager, five or six vodka and lemonades and some Jagerbombs.
Stokes said he heard best friends Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale direct homophobic abuse at William O'Connor and Kai Barry - but was unable to say what those words were.
He told the pair, "You shouldn't be taking the p*** because they are gay", after which Ali replied, "Shut the f*** up or I'll bottle you".
Mr Ali, an emergency services worker, told jurors the England cricketer "was very angry and looking for someone to pick on" and said he only used a bottle after what would have been a "difficult decision for me to take".
The men tussled and fell to the floor and Stokes said he was compelled to act further because he felt under threat from Mr Ali and Mr Hale.
Mr Ali, who was also charged with affray and acquitted, suffered a fractured eye socket while former soldier Mr Hale, who had been charged but was found not guilty after a direction to the jury from the judge, was left with concussion.
A bouncer had claimed that he witnessed Stokes mock Mr O'Connor and Mr Barry, but they later told ITV News that they were grateful to Stokes for his intervention.
Mr O'Connor said: "He could see the people doing what they were doing and how homophobic they were and how nasty they came across."
Mr Barry added: "I thought he (Stokes) was just a normal lad, sticking up for someone who was obviously weaker than he was, which was quite nice.
"When I realised who he was I thought 'fair play', cos obviously he's put his career at risk for someone that he never knew."
Fellow England cricketer Alex Hales was also involved in the fight and was interviewed under caution, but never arrested.
The England Cricket Board said in a statement after: "Now that the legal proceedings have concluded, the disciplinary process for Ben Stokes and Alex Hales can be scheduled by the Cricket Discipline Commission [CDC].
"Ben Stokes will now join the England squad for the 3rd Specsavers Test against India, which starts at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
"Considerable detail has been heard in this week-long court case and, in due course, there will be a range of matters for the board to fully consider."
The police said they respected the decision of the jury and the CPS said it would keep cases under "review", having earlier failed to convince a judge to introduce the stronger charge of assault resulting in actual bodily harm (ABH).
Several observers reported that Stokes shook Mr Ali's hand after the verdicts were delivered.
Tony Miles, the solicitor for Mr Ali and Mr Hales, said: "Both our clients are delighted it's all over. They just want to get in with their lives."