|
 |
 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | You are in: UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 | | Friday, 7 September, 2001, 15:05 GMT 16:05 UK Everton star found guilty  Cadamarteri told the court he acted in self-defence Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri has been found guilty of assault after punching a young woman in the face. Joeline Joel, 25, suffered a suspected fractured cheek during the late-night fracas in Liverpool in October last year. Judge David Lynch told Liverpool Crown Court that he was in "no doubt" that the England under-21 player punched Miss Joel to the ground. But he said he would not be imposing a custodial sentence because it was not an unprovoked attack. Judge Lynch said: "Had this been an unprovoked punch on a woman a custodial sentence would have been very much at the forefront of my mind." Alcohol factor He told Cadamarteri he accepted Miss Joel had been under the influence of alcohol and had attacked one of the footballer's friends. "I have no doubt that he [Cadamarteri] punched her in the face and I have no doubt that that was excessive force, but that is a world apart from an unprovoked attack." Cadamarteri, of Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, admitted hitting Miss Joel but claimed he acted in self-defence because he feared Miss Joel was about to attack him. The jury of seven women and five men reached a unanimous verdict after two-and-a-half hours of deliberation.
Speaking after the trial Cadamarteri said: "Obviously I'm disappointed with the result but pleased the judge has recognised it was not an unprovoked attack but that she had tried to punch me in the face." The footballer's solicitor Paolo Martini, said his client was "very concerned" for his future at the Liverpool club. "Mr Cadamarteri is obviously very disappointed with the verdict but respects the court's decision. 'Torrid time' "He is very concerned as to the ramifications of that verdict in relation to his contract with Everton Football Club. "He is, however, relieved, that the judge did confirm that his liberty will not be taken from him. "Mr Cadamarteri is very relieved that the matter is near conclusion save for the details of the sentence. It has been a torrid time for him. "He would now like to concentrate on his career as a professional footballer with Everton Football Club." | | See also:  Top UK stories now:  Links to more UK stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Links to more UK stories |
 | | ^^ Back to top News Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | In Depth | AudioVideo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII|News Sources|Privacy  |
E-mail this story to a friend