Photo credit: www.skysports.com

Joey Barton Receives Suspended Sentence for Assaulting His Wife

Former professional football player Joey Barton has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, following a conviction for assaulting his wife, Georgia, in June 2021. The incident, which occurred in their home, involved a heated argument that escalated into physical violence.

During the proceedings at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, it was reported that Mrs. Barton suffered visible injuries, including bleeding and bruising. Although Barton initially denied the accusation of assault by beating, the court ultimately found him guilty after hearing testimonies over the course of two days.

After the verdict was delivered, Barton expressed his disappointment and announced his intention to appeal the decision. “I’m really disappointed with the magistrate’s verdict,” he stated. “I intend to appeal this to the High Court and I have to respect that process in between, so that is all I can say on the matter.”

The court was informed that both Barton and his wife had been consuming alcohol with friends prior to the argument, which arose from a family-related issue. In the course of their dispute, it was alleged that Barton forcibly pushed his wife to the ground and kicked her in the head.

Mrs. Barton’s immediate reaction was to contact emergency services, indicating that her husband had physically assaulted her. However, she later attempted to retract her allegations in a letter to prosecutors, claiming that her injuries were the result of an accident involving a friend who tried to intervene during the argument.

Despite this retraction, the prosecution presented evidence highlighting the severity of Mrs. Barton’s injuries, arguing that they were not consistent with an accidental occurrence. Prosecutor Helena Duong emphasized the reliability of Mrs. Barton’s 999 call as critical evidence, stating that she had described the incident in “clear terms.”

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ultimately dismissed Barton’s defense, labeling his account of events as “vague,” and upheld the charge against him. The defense argued that the timeline of Mrs. Barton’s injuries and her call to the police was unclear; however, the magistrate found the prosecution’s evidence persuasive.

Following his arrest, Barton spent time in police custody where he opted not to provide a detailed response during questioning. His defense attorney, Simon Csoka, suggested that there could be uncertainties regarding how Mrs. Barton sustained her injuries and mentioned various scenarios that could result in accidental harm.

The legal proceedings against Barton were initially scheduled for 2022 but were postponed after Mrs. Barton attempted to retract her allegations. Despite the incident, the couple remains married and continues to live together. Barton, dressed in a black jacket and glasses during his court appearance, silently accepted the court’s ruling as the verdict was read.

Source
www.skysports.com