Serious head injury s.18 GBH allegation dropped against our client

Our client was charged with a section 18 causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and racially aggravated harassment. The allegations are dated from 2022 and he faced trial in Inner London Crown Court in 2025. 

The case centers on a quarrel between the defendant and two females. It was alleged that the defendant punched one of the females, at which point the complainant gets involved and hits the defendant with a stool. Various items were used in the fight involving the defendant and the complainant, including a hockey stick and a glass bottle. 

Both were heavily bleeding and required medical attention. Both had admitted to be intoxicated. It was found that the complainant had a slight bleed on the brain but left hospital a day later. 

Weeks later, the complainant took a drug overdose and was rushed into hospital. He suffered a lack of oxygen to the brain and was left in an almost vegetative state.

Two years later, our client was charged and it was the Crown's case that the original head injury attributed to the complainant's vegetative state. 

Written representations were drafted querying whether the chain of causation was satisfied, given the brain being starved of oxygen weeks later.

The crown reviewed the case and discontinued the matter. Given the lapse of 6 months, the indictment containing the racially aggravated offence was quashed.

Rachel Hobba was the solicitor with conduct of this case. David Kitson was the advocate representing the client.