Pal who bit off mate's ear cleared of GBH
Comments |
by Keith Hunt
A friendship of more than 10 years came to a bloody and
horrific end when two men came to blows and one of them had his ear
bitten off, a court heard.
In agony and with blood pouring from the wound, Stirling Carey
claimed Elliott Ashley ordered him to pick up the severed ear
because it was making him feel sick.
But Mr Ashley was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with
intent and an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm
after claiming he retaliated in self-defence.
Giving evidence screened from the dock by curtains, Mr Carey
said he went to Mr Ashley’s home in Birling Road Snodland, on May
15 last year after receiving a text from him.
When he arrived they had drinks. After a while Mr Ashley told
him he had to go to his mother’s home in East Malling to collect
some money and “weed”.
Mr Carey said he drove his pal to the address and they went into
the garden.
“I heard the gate lock,” he said. “I heard my name. When I turned
around the first blow took place. I believe it was a piece of wood
that struck me in the mouth.
“Before I could do anything, another blow hit me in the face. I
was down on one knee. He kneed me in the face. He had a screwdriver
in his hand.
“He said: 'I am going to ---- you up.’ He said I have said he is
a grass. I started screaming, saying: 'What’s this all about? I
thought we were mates.’
“I was punched in the head again. I remember him coming at me. I
didn’t realise what he was doing at first.
“It wasn’t until he pulled away that he spat my ear out. I was
in pain. There was blood everywhere.
“At one point I picked up a half brick. I wanted to get him with
it because the attack was so atrocious.
“He spat the ear out in front of me. He told me to pick it up
because it was making him feel sick. I had a watch in a case. He
told me to take the watch out and put the ear in it.”
Mr Carey said he kept passing out. Mr Ashley drove him to
Maidstone Hospital and left him in the car about 800 yards
away.
He staggered inside and the severed ear was stitched back on. He
was also treated for other injuries.
Elliott Ashley claimed he bit off Mr Carey’s ear as he was about
to be attacked with a brick.
“It all happened in a split second,” he told the jury. “I was in
shock over it. I have got to live with it as well.
“I was on the floor and he was on top of me with a brick in his
hand. He was pretty close. He was about to come down with that
brick and I bit out.
“It could have been his cheek. I didn’t mean to go for his ear.
I was just about to get my head stoved in with the brick."
He wept as the jury delivered the not guilty verdicts.
Friday, September 10 2010
The KM Group does not moderate comments.
Please click here for our house rules.