Devendra Kumar
Tom Daley’s husband, Dustin Lance Black, was in the midst of a trial where he was accused of assaulting Teddy Edwardes at the Freedom nightclub in Soho, London on August 18th last year. Black was alleged to have grabbed Edwardes’ wrist “very hard” and spilled her drink over her during an altercation at the venue where he was with Daley. However, the prosecution’s case took a turn when the defendant’s lawyer, Helena Duong, pointed out inconsistencies in Edwardes’ live evidence. According to District Judge Louisa Ciecora, Edwardes initially stated that she couldn’t remember a wrist grab, but then later claimed she was sure it had happened, which the judge deemed an obvious contradiction. The judge also mentioned that the CCTV footage was “not clear” due to the camera angle.
The prosecution’s case was weakened further when Duong argued that they failed to prove Black grabbed Edwardes’ wrist. Instead, she suggested that Black grabbed Edwardes’ drink and spilled it on the floor. Duong also claimed that it was Edwardes who showed aggression, as it was an agreed fact in the case that she punched Black in the back of the head after their altercation. Edwardes received a police caution for the punch. Due to the weakness of the prosecution’s case, Judge Ciecora decided to dismiss the charge, effectively exonerating Black.
Following the hearing, Black, who is an Oscar-winning screenwriter, described the judge’s dismissal as a “moment of exoneration”. He expressed his gratitude to the judge for clearing his name, stating that the case had flown in the face of everything he is. The dismissal of the charge means that Black and Daley did not have to take the stand, and the couple can now move forward without the cloud of accusation hanging over them.