By Tyne-Talk
May 30 2008

Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has been cleared of criminal damage after allegations that he ripped out a taxi radio on 4th March 2007 when the driver refused to queue up in a McDonalds drive through. McDonalds must be unlucky for Barton who was imprisoned for 6 months, 10 days ago for Common Assault & Affray after an incident outside McDonalds in Liverpool on 27th December 2007.

The 25 year old returned to Liverpool Magistrates where he was found not guilty in the half day trial after fingerprint evidence and a confession from his cousin Josh Wilson proved he was not guilty. The court too just 15minutes to aquit him after the evidence had been heard.

Taxi driver Mr Kay said in court that his passengers had paid upfront for the fare to McDonalds. Mr Kay claimed he refused to queue at the drive through and asked the passengers to either make their purchase at the hatch or leave the vehicle for which he would return part of the fare.

Mr Kay then said that the men refused to leave the vehicle so he drove them to a nearby police station which was shut. He then alleged Barton and Wilson began causing damage to the partition between the front and rear seats. He responded by filing a "yellow one" - an emergency signal.

He said in court:

"I heard a crack, turned around and he was yanking and yanking and it smashed. He grabbed hold of me, he was strangling me."

Barton responded in his evidence by saying:

"He didn't seem to be in control and seemed to be going really mad.

I said 'Let's forget about the money and get out of the cab and get to safety', but he wouldn't stop the cab."

Mr Wilson said in court that the driver who responded to the call arrived brandishing a rounders bat and jeered "come on Barton".

Barton Cleared Over Criminal Damage Charge

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 30/05/2008 20:59

TyneTalk
30/05/2008 20:59

Barton Cleared Over Criminal Damage Charge

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exileonwearside
31/05/2008 01:35

not wanting to throw more mud, but if this was someone elses player, and he had been given 6 months so recently, and had an assault charge awaiting trial, and his other cousin was already banged up for murder, well...would just a little part of you wonder if his cousin was talking thru his pikey backside when he accepted responsibility for this?

and does any part of you wonder why, if the cousin was guilty, he wouldnt have said so earlier?

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tunyc
31/05/2008 23:17

Man, I completely forgot about this trial. I'm losing track...

And yes, exile, I think the way this went down is very, very fishy. They keep saying that fingerprints on the radio unit weren't Joey's, but they don't say they were his cousin's, either.

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MissC
31/05/2008 23:20

Also - if the evidence was there originally - IE fingerprint evidence to rule him out it could have been pulled before it went to court.

As would a confession.

I too had forgotton about this court appearance

just for the record

2 down 1 to go.......?

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