A WITNESS in a child sexual assault trial stormed out while giving evidence, calling the defence barrister a ‘c***’.
The incident happened during the trial of Vicky Butler, 32, who is on trial accused of sexually assaulting two young girls when he was in his early 20s in Witney.
He has denied the offences – four counts of assault a girl under the age of 13, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, and one count of rape - and is on trial at Oxford Crown Court.
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On Wednesday (March 20), the boyfriend of one of the alleged victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took the stand to give evidence before becoming emotional and storming out.
Describing how he came to learn about the alleged assault, he said: “Basically, he’s a dirty n****. She said he sexually assaulted her.
“She told me quite a lot. He used to follow her about…he used to play with her, things you shouldn’t do with a child.
“He was touching her…she was messed up, she broke down. She was a child. It had been going on for years, he’s a predator, look at him.”
When being cross-examined, he became emotional, calling the defence barrister names. “How do you sleep at night protecting something like that,” he said.
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“It’s a f****** joke, I don’t want to speak to you. I believe her. I know what he’s done. F*** your mother you f****** s*** c***.”
After storming out, the barristers made the decision not to recall the witness despite his cross-examination not being completed.
When the jury returned, Judge Nigel Daly reminded them that is normal for witnesses to display emotions during proceedings and it’s not a ‘reliable’ indicator of a truth or a lie.
“As you saw the witness became somewhat emotional,” he said.
“He had almost completed his evidence and more questions would have been asked to him by the defence but we can’t really speculate what he might have said but you are of course aware of his attitude.
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“I want to say at this stage just because someone becomes emotional or aggressive or upset in the course of giving evidence, it’s not a reliable indication as to whether they are telling the truth or whether they are telling a lie.
“There is no reason to take the view that they are either telling the truth as a result of lying as a result, it’s completely mutual.”
The trial of Butler, of Little Hardings, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, continues.
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