England cricketer Ben Stokes has told a jury he joined a fracas after hearing two revellers shout homophobic abuse at two gay men in Bristol.
Ben Stokes played a key part in England's one day series win over the Black Caps. Photo: Photosport
The allrounder, 27, is accused of knocking out two friends, Ryan Hale and Ryan Ali, during an alleged fight in Bristol on September 25.
Stokes, who plays for Durham, is standing trial at Bristol Crown Court jointly accused of affray alongside Ali.
Hale was found not guilty of the same charge by the jury on the direction of the judge on Thursday.
The cricketer denied claims he mocked two gay men, Kai Barry and William O'Connor, outside the Mbargo nightclub and flicked a cigarette butt at them.
He insisted he had instead stepped in to protect Barry and O'Connor after hearing Hale and Ali, who had a glass beer bottle, shout homophobic abuse at them.
The court heard Stokes was in Bristol at the time of the incident, having played a one-day international against the West Indies.
The cricketer said he consumed about three or four pints of lager and five or six vodka and lemonades on the evening.
However, they were refused entry by door supervisor Andrew Cunningham as it was after 2am.
Stokes said the cricketers offered Cunningham around PS60 or PS70 ($104 or $120) to get them into the club, which was turned down.
-PA
told Bristol Crown Court
Cunningham said two gay men he knew, William O'Connor and Kai Barry, then emerged from the nightclub and began talking to each other.
He described O'Connor and Barry as "extravagant" and said they acted in a "flamboyant" manner.
"The ginger guy picked up on this and started to take the mick out of them," he told the jury.
"They are quite effeminate guys and their voices are different. He made noises to try to copy them, not saying anything, just making stupid noises ... camp gestures"
Cunningham said he did not step in until Stokes flicked a cigarette butt at the men.
"I asked him, 'If you are going to start on someone, start on me'," he said.
The doorman said Hales asked what had happened and, after being told, said to his teammate: "Stokesy - don't do that."
Cunningham said two men - Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, who are standing trial accused of affray with Stokes - left Mbargo and walked off with O'Connor and Barry.
He claimed that Stokes became annoyed after he refused to shake his hand, then walked off with Hales.
Prosecutors allege that trouble flared after Stokes and Hales caught up with Ali, Hale, O'Connor and Barry on a nearby street.
The cricketer is accused of knocking both Hale and Ali out during the fracas.
AAP
