Rooney not facing assault charge
Wayne Rooney was told today that he will not face charges over an
alleged assault on a photographer.
Police interviewed the 21-year-old England and Manchester United
star after an alleged fight outside the Panacea Club in Manchester
city centre on October 15.
He was not arrested but attended a police station voluntarily last
Friday to answer questions.
Greater Manchester Police sent a file of evidence to the Crown
Prosecution Service, which decided to take no further action.
Rooneys solicitor, Nick Freeman better known for helping
celebrities in the dock for alleged motoring offences confirmed
the footballer had received the news.
He said: The case has been reviewed by the CPS and the police, and
they have deided there is insufficient grounds to proceed. I
received the decision today and I told Wayne Rooneys agent, who
has passed the information on.
Rooney was playing at Old Trafford tonight against his boyhood team
Everton FC. His spokesman was unavailable for comment.
Bellamy's charges are dismissed
Wales and Liverpool footballer Craig Bellamy has been cleared of
assaulting two women in a Cardiff nightclub.
The Cardiff-born 27-year-old was accused of assault against Sophie
Palmer, 19, and her friend Holly Smith, 20, at the No 10 club in
February.
The player was cleared by district judge John Charles after a
five-day trial at Cardiff Magistrates Court.
His co-defendant, Franklin Lynch, 52, of Barry, was found not
guilty of common assault against Ms Palmer.
The judge told the striker: "It was inconsistent to convict you
with the serious discrepancies in the prosecution case and the two
charges are dismissed."
The court heard that an exchange of words took place between the
footballer and Ms Palmer in a corridor between to nightclubs VIP
bar and VIP lounge some time between 0100 GMT and 0130 GMT on 5
February.
The prosecution alleged Mr Bellamy held Ms Palmer by the throat and
grabbed Ms Smiths arm and pushed her into a wall after an exchange
of words in a corridor at the nightclub.
But the player told the court he had been slapped by Ms Palmer
following the exchange.
He said he had been "shocked" by the slap and did not respond
before Ms Palmer was ushered away.
During his closing speech on Wednesday, Mr Bellamys defence
counsel, John Charles Rees, accused Ms Palmer and Ms Smith of
"devious manoeuvring" during their evidence.
He also said the prosecutions evidence was "confusing to say the
least". Mr Rees told the judge: "We simply say that the evidence is
a shambles as far as the prosecution is concerned and you should
acquit Mr Bellamy of the charges."
Geraint Richards, defending Mr Lynch, also urged the judge to
acquit his client because of a lack of evidence.
Mr Bellamy declined to comment as he left the court but stopped to
sign an autograph for a cleaner and a Liverpool football strip for
a fan.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Bellamys solicitor, Matthew de Maid,
said his client had missed training and games for his club,
Liverpool, and the case had also affected his preparation for Wales
international matches.
The £6m player missed Liverpools Wednesday night match against
Portsmouth.
Mr de Maid added: "He has always said the allegations were false
and thats been proved correct. His defence was that he didnt do
anything wrong, he didnt lay a finger on anybody and for his
troubles he was slapped in the face and this has been believed by
the court. He understands that given his profession he will get a
degree of hassle."
footballers always win 