Fifth man charged in conspiracy case

Police have charged a fifth man with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to a trial involving the husband of jazz singing sensation Amy Winehouse.

James Kennedy, 19, a builder from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was re-arrested and charged today and is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, Scotland Yard said.

Winehouse’s husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was due to stand trial for assaulting a pub landlord in June 20 in November but he and four other men were all arrested before it started.

Fielder-Civil, 25, and Michael Brown are accused of assaulting James King, the landlord of Macbeths public house in Hoxton, east London, on June 20 last year.

It is alleged that they later conspired to pervert the course of justice by offering Mr King a significant amount of money to withdraw his allegation and leave the country.

The two other men also facing the same charge are Anthony Kelly, 25, from Chalk Farm, north west London and James King, 36, from Risley, Derbyshire.

All four have been remanded in custody until January 18 for a plea and directions hearing with a trial date pencilled in for June.

Fielder-Civil and Brown’s trial was adjourned after they were accused of the conspiracy charge.

Winehouse cancelled her remaining UK tour dates following her husband’s arrest, after giving several shambolic performances.