Emma Jayne Lippiard (33) had been accused of attacking her ex-boyfriend’s new partner by slapping and scratching her face before pulling out large clumps of hair.
However, in the Royal Court on Wednesday a jury of eight women and four men took just 25 minutes to return a verdict of not guilty to the single charge of grave and criminal assault.
On the opening day of the trial earlier this week jurors heard that the 19-year-old alleged victim had been sitting in a parked car near her partner’s parents’ house in December last year when Ms Lippiard allegedly pulled up behind the vehicle, got out and charged towards her. She was then accused of grabbing her victim by the throat before slapping and scratching her face and pulling large clumps of hair out.
However, Advocate Lauren Glynn, defending, argued that the story had been concocted by the teenager in an attempt to get Ms Lippiard out of the picture.
