Post by QPR Report on May 15, 2009 8:22:20 GMT
Daily Mail - Vinnie Jones bar brawl started in row over pool table, court hears as he goes on trial for assault
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:16 AM on 15th May 2009
Vinnie Jones
Vinnie Jones, pictured yesterday, is on trial in the U.S. over assault charges in a South Dakota bar last December
Movie hardman Vinnie Jones punched a drinker after demanding to use the pool table, a court heard.
The footballer-turned-actor was glassed in the face during the bust-up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, last December.
He faces three assault charges, with CCTV played in court allegedly showing him punching builder Juan Barrera after he had been glassed by another man.
Greg Doohen, manager of Wiley's Tavern bar, told a South Dakota court in the U.S that he heard the commotion of the fight and saw Jones bleeding from his face when he went to investigate.
He said Jones appeared 'scared' and initially asked to leave through the back door of the bar.
Doohen told the court how he tried to help the injured Jones to the bathroom.
Barrera was removed from the bar by a bouncer, the court was told.
Alleged victim Barrera told the court Jones, who was in South Dakota on a hunting trip, approached him and his roommates and was 'very rude' to them.
He said Jones 'aggressively' demanded to use the pool table in the bar.
Barrera said he later tried to let Jones pass him in the hallway on his way to the bathroom, but claims the actor charged at him and punched him in the mouth.
He told how he suffered scratches and bruises in the incident.
Barrera said he threw Jones to the ground, but was then grabbed by one of Jones's friends and kicked out of the bar by several other people.
Vinnie Jones
Bandaged: A police picture of Jones taken after he was glassed in the face
Jones sat silent and expressionless during Barrera's evidence at Minnehaha County Courthouse in Sioux Falls, but had earlier looked relaxed during jury selection.
The court also heard Jones told police Barrera had asked him: 'Have you had enough old man?' before the altercation in the hallway.
Jones also told police Barrera had been heckling him earlier in the evening about his English accent, the jury heard.
Vinnie Jones
The actor on the dance floor at Wiley's Tavern in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 20 minutes before the brawl
Crime scene: Wiley's bar in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Jones was involved in a bar brawl with locals
Crime scene: An exterior view of Wiley's Tavern - a court heard Jones punched local Juan Barrera at the bar after demanding to use the pool table
Prosecutor Brett Waltner had opened the case by telling the jury Jones launched an 'unprovoked' attack on Barrera.
Jones's attorney Peter Wold said the X-Men star acted in self-defence.
Wold told the court Barrera was a 'marijuana dealer' who was 'drunk' and 'vulgar' with Jones on the night of the brawl.
He said Barrera was a 'hoodlum' and claimed Jones was protecting himself having already been hit in the face with a glass mug.
Jones faces three misdemeanor assault charges and could be jailed for up to a year if found guilty.
The judge has instructed him he does not have to testify if he does not want to.
The man who apparently glassed Jones, Jesse Bickett, was charged with aggravated assault but prosecutors later dropped the charges.
The trial continues and is expected to last up to two days.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1182028/Vinnie-Jones-goes-trial-assault-U-S-bar-brawl-glassed-face.html
AFP - Vinnie Jones on trial for assault
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota (AFP) — Football star turned tough-guy Hollywood actor Vinnie Jones was in a South Dakota court to defend himself against assault charges.
Jones, 44, was hospitalized after he was hit in the face with a beer mug during a December bar brawl which broke out after he tried to join a game of pool in the small town of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Witnesses said at the time that Jones took offense when one of the men identified him as Juggernaut from "X-Men: The Last Stand," which he apparently took as a slight against his more significant roles.
His lawyer told the court that Jones was acting in self-defense when he punched Juan Trevino Barrera as the actor was being taken to the bathroom to clean up.
"Vinnie Jones used very reasonable force in an attempt to protect himself when he finally could," Peter Wold said during opening statements.
Wold also criticized Barrera, who is currently in jail on drug charges, for selling his story to a tabloid and got him to acknowledge that he'd make more money if Jones is convicted.
Barrera is also suing Jones for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering.
A Sioux Falls police officer told jurors Jones was arrested because he admitted he did not feel immediately threatened by Barrera but instead punched him for heckling and taunting him over his accent.
"(Jones) said Juan Barrera made a statement, 'Have you had enough, old man?" Chris Treadway testified.
A man who works for the pheasant hunting lodge that hosted Jones testified that Jones was sober and upbeat when they arrived at the bar that night to listen to a band.
"He bought a round of drinks and I definitely remember him not having one and he was dancing at one point," Brett Buxton said.
Jones faces up to a year in jail and 1,000 dollar fine if convicted of three alternate counts of simple assault, a misdemeanor.
After a football career in which he developed a brutal "hard man" reputation, Jones debuted as an actor in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." His other film credits include "Snatch" and "Gone in Sixty Seconds."
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5guIvr8oNrjtZEJyhvFn0LoxvcPrg
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1182028/Vinnie-Jones-goes-trial-assault-U-S-bar-brawl-glassed-face.html
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:16 AM on 15th May 2009
Vinnie Jones
Vinnie Jones, pictured yesterday, is on trial in the U.S. over assault charges in a South Dakota bar last December
Movie hardman Vinnie Jones punched a drinker after demanding to use the pool table, a court heard.
The footballer-turned-actor was glassed in the face during the bust-up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, last December.
He faces three assault charges, with CCTV played in court allegedly showing him punching builder Juan Barrera after he had been glassed by another man.
Greg Doohen, manager of Wiley's Tavern bar, told a South Dakota court in the U.S that he heard the commotion of the fight and saw Jones bleeding from his face when he went to investigate.
He said Jones appeared 'scared' and initially asked to leave through the back door of the bar.
Doohen told the court how he tried to help the injured Jones to the bathroom.
Barrera was removed from the bar by a bouncer, the court was told.
Alleged victim Barrera told the court Jones, who was in South Dakota on a hunting trip, approached him and his roommates and was 'very rude' to them.
He said Jones 'aggressively' demanded to use the pool table in the bar.
Barrera said he later tried to let Jones pass him in the hallway on his way to the bathroom, but claims the actor charged at him and punched him in the mouth.
He told how he suffered scratches and bruises in the incident.
Barrera said he threw Jones to the ground, but was then grabbed by one of Jones's friends and kicked out of the bar by several other people.
Vinnie Jones
Bandaged: A police picture of Jones taken after he was glassed in the face
Jones sat silent and expressionless during Barrera's evidence at Minnehaha County Courthouse in Sioux Falls, but had earlier looked relaxed during jury selection.
The court also heard Jones told police Barrera had asked him: 'Have you had enough old man?' before the altercation in the hallway.
Jones also told police Barrera had been heckling him earlier in the evening about his English accent, the jury heard.
Vinnie Jones
The actor on the dance floor at Wiley's Tavern in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 20 minutes before the brawl
Crime scene: Wiley's bar in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Jones was involved in a bar brawl with locals
Crime scene: An exterior view of Wiley's Tavern - a court heard Jones punched local Juan Barrera at the bar after demanding to use the pool table
Prosecutor Brett Waltner had opened the case by telling the jury Jones launched an 'unprovoked' attack on Barrera.
Jones's attorney Peter Wold said the X-Men star acted in self-defence.
Wold told the court Barrera was a 'marijuana dealer' who was 'drunk' and 'vulgar' with Jones on the night of the brawl.
He said Barrera was a 'hoodlum' and claimed Jones was protecting himself having already been hit in the face with a glass mug.
Jones faces three misdemeanor assault charges and could be jailed for up to a year if found guilty.
The judge has instructed him he does not have to testify if he does not want to.
The man who apparently glassed Jones, Jesse Bickett, was charged with aggravated assault but prosecutors later dropped the charges.
The trial continues and is expected to last up to two days.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1182028/Vinnie-Jones-goes-trial-assault-U-S-bar-brawl-glassed-face.html
AFP - Vinnie Jones on trial for assault
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota (AFP) — Football star turned tough-guy Hollywood actor Vinnie Jones was in a South Dakota court to defend himself against assault charges.
Jones, 44, was hospitalized after he was hit in the face with a beer mug during a December bar brawl which broke out after he tried to join a game of pool in the small town of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Witnesses said at the time that Jones took offense when one of the men identified him as Juggernaut from "X-Men: The Last Stand," which he apparently took as a slight against his more significant roles.
His lawyer told the court that Jones was acting in self-defense when he punched Juan Trevino Barrera as the actor was being taken to the bathroom to clean up.
"Vinnie Jones used very reasonable force in an attempt to protect himself when he finally could," Peter Wold said during opening statements.
Wold also criticized Barrera, who is currently in jail on drug charges, for selling his story to a tabloid and got him to acknowledge that he'd make more money if Jones is convicted.
Barrera is also suing Jones for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering.
A Sioux Falls police officer told jurors Jones was arrested because he admitted he did not feel immediately threatened by Barrera but instead punched him for heckling and taunting him over his accent.
"(Jones) said Juan Barrera made a statement, 'Have you had enough, old man?" Chris Treadway testified.
A man who works for the pheasant hunting lodge that hosted Jones testified that Jones was sober and upbeat when they arrived at the bar that night to listen to a band.
"He bought a round of drinks and I definitely remember him not having one and he was dancing at one point," Brett Buxton said.
Jones faces up to a year in jail and 1,000 dollar fine if convicted of three alternate counts of simple assault, a misdemeanor.
After a football career in which he developed a brutal "hard man" reputation, Jones debuted as an actor in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." His other film credits include "Snatch" and "Gone in Sixty Seconds."
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5guIvr8oNrjtZEJyhvFn0LoxvcPrg
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1182028/Vinnie-Jones-goes-trial-assault-U-S-bar-brawl-glassed-face.html
