The jury sitting on the trial of England rubgy star Lesley Vainikolo – who fractured a fan’s skull on a players’ night out – was discharged yesterday after failing to reach a verdict.
Vainikolo, 30, a former Bradford Bulls star winger, punched Jake Alicker once to the head in Bath in the early hours of October 26 last year, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Alicker, 25, was taken to hospital and treated for a fractured skull, but told the court he had no recollection of the incident.
The Gloucester RFC player, who lives in Cheltenham, was subsequently charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH), to which he previously pleaded not guilty.
Vainikolo, who accepted he threw the punch, claimed he acted in self-defence.
But after deliberating for four hours and 26 minutes, the 11-person jury told the court that with more time it would not reach a majority verdict, and was discharged by Judge Mark Horton. Prosecutor William Hunter indicated that the Crown Prosecution Service would seek a retrial.
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