TWO men who went out “looking for a fight” have gone on trial accused of assaulting a man outside a pub during a bingo night brawl, including punching their alleged victim to the ground and kicking him while he was on the floor.
Sean Downey (22) and Kenneth Skinner (24) were involved in a fight at the Oxford pub in October 2023, the Royal Court heard yesterday.
Both men face one charge of grave and criminal assault, which they deny.
Mr Skinner had been at the pub’s Friday bingo night, but when there was an issue with his drinks payment he was ejected from the premises, the jury was told.
Crown Advocate Paul Lee, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Skinner got on the phone to his friend, Mr Downey, and they returned less than an hour later.
The court was shown CCTV from inside the pub as well as video taken by onlookers, showing a number of pub patrons going outside and getting into a fight.
Advocate Lee said the alleged victim tried to intervene in the fight, but became the target of the assault.
Mr Downey and Mr Skinner are said to have punched him to the ground and kicked him when he was unconscious on the floor.
Giving evidence yesterday, the alleged victim described how he had spent the evening helping out at the pub and having “three or four” pints.
He told the jury that he tried to calm Mr Skinner down, telling him to go home and not to cause any trouble.
The man also said that the Oxford was not known for trouble.
After being punched, the man described being “out cold” and then being taken to hospital by ambulance, where he was treated for a head injury and a broken leg.
Mr Downey was arrested at the scene and Mr Skinner was arrested at home later that night.
“They went to the pub looking for a fight,” Advocate Lee argued.
The pub landlord, who was the bingo caller on the night, gave evidence yesterday and said: “If they had stayed at home when I asked them to leave, none of this would have happened.”
Mr Skinner claims he was acting in self-defence. Mr Downey admits common assault but denies the more serious offence of grave and criminal assault and says he was not working in conjunction with Mr Skinner.
Advocate Greg Herold-Howes, defending Mr Downey, asked if the alleged victim’s hand motions caught on camera could be interpreted as “being aggressive”. The complainant denied this.
He argued that the alleged victim had also kicked out at the men.
Advocate Olaf Blakeley, defending Mr Skinner, said that the man was also involved in the fight, and questioned why he had pushed his way out of the pub.
The Deputy Bailiff, Robert MacRae, is presiding. The trial is scheduled to last between four and five days.
