Premier League - King to stand trial for assault

Eurosport - Thu, 14 May 13:29:00 2009

Wigan striker Marlon King has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly groping and punching a woman in a nightclub.

Marlon King - 0

The 29-year-old, who is on loan at Middlesbrough at the moment, allegedly attacked the 20-year-old at the Soho Revue bar in London last December.

Wearing a designer charcoal suit, white shirt and black tie, he spoke only to confirm his name and deny two charges when he appeared at a short plea and directions hearing at London's Southwark Crown Court.

The first count accused him of sexual assault "by touching". The second claimed he assaulted the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - "occasioning her actual bodily harm".

Much of the 15-minute hearing was devoted to fixing a trial date. Lisa Wilding, defending, said although there were dates available this August, her client's wife was expecting to give birth on August 13. With that in mind she suggested that rather than adjourn the case to the next available slot in March 2010, it should be put back even longer.

Referring to the end of the football season, she continued: "Your Honour knows his profession and his commitments until May."

But Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith retorted: "Everybody has commitments. Whatever business they are in they have commitments."

Further checks with the court list office then discovered a new date this autumn had just become available. He told the Jamaica international - already a father-of-two - that his five-day trial would therefore start on October 26.

He added the shaven-headed player, from Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, who was bought by Wigan from Championship side Watford for £5 million in January 2008, could remain on unconditional bail.

"But, of course, and I say this to all defendants, if you fail to attend the trial will proceed in your absence."

PA Sport / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. The jude was right, everybody has committments why­ should these over rated, pampered pansies, be given­ longer, in the hope everybody forgets, if he does not­ turn up jail the thug indefinatly, proceed with the­ trial and sentence, guilty, he should have know better­ then again as footballers appear to be uneducated it is­ no surprise.
    Rules are for everbody not just the common­ person.

    From Roughie Toughie Northerner, on Thu 14 May 7:46PM

  2. It'about time someone called time on these overpaid­ thugs and jailed them

    From painterman, on Thu 14 May 7:19PM

  3. WAN CAN ANLAY HOPE THOT HAS NEWLAY BARN SAN UR DATTAR­ GROWS OPP TAY REELAY RASPACT THER FOLAR FAE WAT HE AS.­ A LAVANG CARANG RESPACTFAL SAXUAL PRADDATAR THOT HATS­ WEMON WHANAVAR THEY SAY NAY. LACKAY KAD...........

    From donneysbeck, on Thu 14 May 6:38PM

  4. preyin'n futbalerz.

    From sven, on Thu 14 May 6:22PM

  5. One can only hope that his newly born son/daughter­ grows up to really respect their father for what he is.­ A loving, caring, respectful sexual predator that hits­ women when they say no. Lucky kid..........

    From Peter, on Thu 14 May 6:00PM

  6. A SAY, HOS ONYWAN SEN THOT THAR PACTURE AN EARLAY DORS­ AV SAME BYE GETTAN HES FACE SQUISHED IN BY A FATBAL.­ WAT THA FACK? A SAY, WAT THA FACK?

    From donneysbeck, on Thu 14 May 5:55PM

  7. What a nub he is and hope he gets a good kicking inside­ the mug.

    Oi King you t i t name and number son lol.

    From Cerberus, on Thu 14 May 5:43PM

  8. A SHAD BE AN JEEL.

    From donneysbeck, on Thu 14 May 5:01PM

  9. A FINKS HES BAG MON JAST CAZ A PLAYS FATBAL. THESE­ FATBALARS NED A REALATAY CHACK. THAR NAYBADAYS.

    From donneysbeck, on Thu 14 May 4:24PM

  10. A SOUNDS LEEK A REET PRAPAR DACKHEED.

    From donneysbeck, on Thu 14 May 4:23PM

  11. RACAST BASTURD.

    From donneysbeck, on Thu 14 May 4:22PM

  12. Guilty before proven innocent then?

    From markbennett555, on Thu 14 May 3:25PM

  13. Yet another footballer who thinks he's above the­ law, would Wigan want him back? I hope not. If found­ guilty, jail him, a fine would mean nothing, back­ pocket money!

    From Bill, on Thu 14 May 3:19PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Fancy a NEW Games console like a PS3, Wii, or a DS Lite­ etc. for only £5 or even FREE? Then just copy and­ paste

    urfreegifts. co . uk into your browser (removing­ any spaces) and sign up.

    Complete just ONE of the­ listed offers to qualify, there are many to choose­ from, some are free and some are as little as £5. My­ favourites are the FREE Lovefilm DVD rental trial or­ the FREE HSBC offer, The Coral and Gala bingo offers­ are only £5 and you can win that back and more.

    I­ have used this site to get a PS3, Iphone and a Nintendo­ Wii so far. Just sign up, do an offer and get a few­ friends to do the same, its as easy as that so sign up­ today.

    From henrystreet1, on Thu 14 May 3:17PM

  15. Blimey! What is it with star footballers and assault?­ And this tout going the extra mile of punching a woman?­ Atleast for once, one of these idiots should be jailed.

    From gustavogambit, on Thu 14 May 2:41PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Recently I found a hot club -- T a l l h u b Co m --­ just for sexy tall gals and guys to find their romance.­ Come on, tall singles. Don't miss your love.

    From arjinroben08, on Thu 14 May 1:51PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account