Man on trial for alleged attack on one-legged cousin

A 43-year-old man has gone on trial accused of launching a sustained attack on his one-legged cousin.
He is on trial at Teesside Crown Court.He is on trial at Teesside Crown Court.
He is on trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Leslie Dowson is alleged to have poured hot water on Michael Casey, and to have broken his arm following a marathon drinking session.

No motive is known for the alleged attack, although prosecutors think Dowson may have been annoyed at the way in which Mr Casey sympathised with Dowson’s former partner following a family bereavement.

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A jury at Teesside Crown Court heard Dowson and Mr Casey began drinking at about 6pm the evening before the alleged early morning assault.

They were joined by Dowson’s former partner, Philippa Young-Hinds.

Dowson had indicated he wanted to discuss the death of one of their teenage children from a drugs overdose a couple of months earlier.

After going to the Jackson’s Wharf pub, the three of them returned to Dowson’s house, stopping to buy more drink at Asda on the way.

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“The attack happened in Dowson’s lounge,” said John Elvidge QC, prosecuting.

“It was sustained and in two parts, Mr Dowson stopping after apparently becoming too tired to continue.

“The attack continued as Mr Casey lay on the floor unable to defend himself.”

Giving evidence, Mr Casey said his recollection of the evening was not clear.

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“My memory is all over the place,” Mr Casey told the jury. “’I’ve got an artificial leg after I lost my leg in a motorbike accident.

“It really messed me up, my head is confused, I suffer from anxiety, depression, all sorts.

“Leslie Dowson never assaulted me, I never told the police he had harmed me.”

Mr Elvidge put it to Mr Casey he had made a statement to police that he had been assaulted, and he was only now saying he had not been assaulted to protect his cousin.

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Mr Casey said he couldn’t read, and the police officer had put words into his mouth.

When questioned by Peter Makepeace QC, defending Dowson, Mr Casey said he had attacked Dowson by butting him, and biting his eyebrow.

Mr Casey said he couldn’t recall how his arm had been broken, but he remembered having a scuffle with a security guard in Asda, and he had fallen over a couple of days earlier due to his artificial leg.

Mr Makepeace put it to Mr Casey he had told ‘a pack of lies’ throughout his evidence, which meant no one could be sure if anything he said was the truth.

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Mr Casey agreed he had been telling lies, and was ‘off his face’ at the time of the alleged assault upon him.

Dowson, of St Oswald Street, Hartlepool, denies wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and he denies causing grievous bodily harm, both on December 7,

The jury was told the charges relate to the same incident, and they should treat them as alternatives to each other.

Proceeding.