Trial starts of man accused of attack on blind man
AN UNPROVOKED attack on a blind man in a pub in Sark last summer ended with more than three hours of surgery for a serious knee injury he sustained.
The assault took place during a music festival in Sark last July at the Bel Air, when it is alleged that Callum Le Poidevin, 21, caused grievous bodily harm to saxophonist Bretton Smeed.
He suffered a 'very significant’ fracture to his right knee as a result of the assault, and he had been told it would be two years before he would regain full strength and flexibility.
Mr Le Poidevin denied the charge as the case opened yesterday in the Ordinary Division of the Royal Court.
Crown Advocate Chris Dunford, prosecuting, said the case rested on the identification of the attacker.
Mr Smeed, 29, gave evidence via video link.
He had been playing with his band in a raised terrace performance space outside the Bel Air on Friday 10 July. Afterwards he was with others on a lower level.
As he went back up to the terrace to his saxophone case around midnight, he was attacked. He said he was grabbed and thrown to the floor in what he said felt like a martial arts move.
While on the floor he heard a man say that he had not realised Mr Smeed was blind, and people went to his aid.
Several prosecution witnesses were heard yesterday, including two who had seen Mr Smeed fall, having been deliberately thrown over his attacker's leg. A barman described him as being ‘flipped’.
Another witness said that Mr Smeed had twice bumped into his attacker before the incident.
Bel Air patron Brian Le Page became aware of the incident after a commotion, and said he spoke to Mr Le Poidevin, who gave him his name and said he had not known Mr Smeed was blind.
Sark Constable Paul Burgess told the court he spoke to the suspect the following night after he was identified by barman Bogomil Kostadinov. He said the man gave him a name and Guernsey post code which he suspected were false.
Advocate Paul Lockwood represented Mr Le Poidevin, who at a previous court sitting gave his address as Crazy Days, 12, La Planque, Skins Lane, St Peter Port.
Some witnesses described the assailant as being a young man, well-built, with a black eye, but Advocate Lockwood highlighted inconsistencies in identification.
The case continues, with the defence due to be heard on Friday.
