Ben Stokes trial - as it happened: England cricketer tells court he had 'pretty stupid face' but wasn't drunk

All-rounder accused of attacking two men during fracas

Ben Stokes arrest footage released by police

Cricketer Ben Stokes has denied being drunk during an alleged brawl outside a Bristol nightclub, although he said he had a "pretty stupid face" when shown images from the night of the incident.

The all-rounder, 27, is accused of attacking two men during the fracas last September.

Mr Stokes entered the witness box on Thursday, the fourth day of his trial, to tell the jury he was protecting himself and others during the alleged fight with two men, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale.

But Mr Hale earlier told Bristol Crown Court Mr Stokes "could have killed" him.

Mr Hale and Mr Ali were also charged with affray, although the judge instructed the jury not to find Mr Hale guilty since there was no evidence he used or threatened unlawful violence.

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Key Points

• Sportsman says he was defending himself and others
• Co-accused Ryan Hale cleared of affray
• Footage showing moment of Stokes' arrest released by police
• Stokes 'could have killed me' says man

[9 August 2018 11:05 · Harriet Agerholm]

Hello and welcome to The Independent's live blog. It has been an eventful week so far and today is expected to be no different, with the cricketer to give evidence. Stay tuned.

[9 August 2018 11:15 · Harriet Agerholm]

Mr Stokes will be notably absent from test match between England and India today. He wished his teammates luck in Instagram this morning, saying: "Good luck to all the @englandcricket lads today and for the rest of the week, always exciting seeing guys get there first opportunity, hope it goes for you well for you."

[9 August 2018 11:19 · Harriet Agerholm]

Stokes 'could have killed me'

Ryan Hale told police he believed Mr Stokes could have killed him.

He officers in a formal interview: "I had a constant headache, which I'm probably going to go and get checked out again.

"It's the emotions of it all. The fact I've been attacked. Watching the video was shocking.

"I'm a dad. He could have killed me. I don't know why he didn't stop. You hear about it all the time - he could have.

"Just the way he was acting in the video, he could have beaten the living hell out of me. It's shocking to see someone doing that to someone who didn't do anything wrong.

"It's quite shocking to think that I've been put in a situation like that."

[9 August 2018 11:27 · Harriet Agerholm]

Ryan Hale was celebrating a promotion at the time of the incident, he told police.

He said he and Ryan Ali were walking up Queen's Road with two gay men, William O'Connor and Kai Barry, when Mr Stokes suddenly came running towards them.

"I remember two guys coming from the road and I remember saying 'I don't want no trouble'. I don't remember which order it was in. 'I don't want no trouble'," he said.

"Laid out on the floor. I don't really remember how it all happened from there."

[9 August 2018 11:33 · Harriet Agerholm]

Bodycam footage of Mr Stokes' arrest has been made available. It shows him in the back of a police car being questioned by officers.

Watch it here:

[9 August 2018 11:38 · Harriet Agerholm]

Mr Hale said in a formal police interview that as he and Ryan Ali were walking up Queen's Road with two gay men, William O'Connor and Kai Barry, there had been "banter",

"The first thing he did was put his hand on my knob. I'm an ex-soldier, to me it's banter," he said.

"It did not offend me at all. He was pinching my arse and I grabbed him and said 'You're coming home with me'. He said 'Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm going home with any other bloke'.

"He probably thought I wasn't going to be like that. I was like, it's fine, no problem, and just carried on walking."

[9 August 2018 11:39 · Harriet Agerholm]

Mr Hale told police he had suffered a mini-stroke that had affected his short-term memory a month before the alleged fight.

[9 August 2018 11:40 · Harriet Agerholm]

The prosecution has closed its case and the jury has been sent away until midday when Gordon Cole QC, representing Mr Stokes, is expected to begin presenting his client's case.

[9 August 2018 12:45 · Harriet Agerholm]

The jury have reportedly been directed by the judge to find Ryan Hale not guilty of affray. The judge at Bristol Crown Court said there was no case to answer evidence that he used or threatened unlawful violence.

[9 August 2018 12:49 · Harriet Agerholm]

Stokes called to give evidence

The cricketer swore on the Bible before beginning his evidence.

He told the court he was born in New Zealand and had been playing professional cricket since the age of 17.

Mr Stokes said he now plays for Durham and was in Bristol at the time of the incident, having been playing for England.

Under direction from Gordon Cole QC, Stokes lifted his right hand up and showed the jury injuries to his right index finger, small finger and middle fingers.

"My right index finger has been this way since 2011. It was a cricketing injury," he said.