Bellamy assault trial postponed

The assault trial involving stand-in Wales captain Craig Bellamy was postponed today after new evidence in the case emerged.

The trial was due to open at Cardiff magistrates’ court tomorrow and would have clashed with the Cyprus match at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday in a qualifier for the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament.

The 27-year-old Liverpool striker is accused of common assault against Holly Smith and Sophie Palmer during an incident at the Number 10 nightclub in Cardiff city centre on February 5 of this year.

Bellamy did not appear at today’s hearing in which prosecution solicitor Catrin Davies succeeded in an application to adjourn the case after medical evidence relating to one of the complainants came to light last week.

District Judge John Charles said he found it “staggering” the evidence emerged only days before the high-profile trial was due to start and would reserve further comment until the completion of the case.

Mr Charles adjourned the case until Friday for a hearing to set a new date for the trial.

A second man, Franklin Lynch, 52, of Glan-y-Mor, Barry, South Wales, also denies common assault on Sophie Palmer.