Sports

David Haye ‘murder threat for comment’, trial | Boxing News



Former world champion boxer David Haye grabbed a man by the throat and threatened to kill him, claiming he was making “derogatory remarks” about him and his partner, a court heard. adjudicated.

The 41-year-old, who won the 2009 heavyweight world championship, is accused of assaulting a man, Nickesh Jhala, at the Hammersmith Apollo on October 30 last year.

Haye appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday wearing a white shirt and a navy blazer.

Jonathan Bryan, the prosecutor, told the court that the alleged assault occurred during a time at a Paul Chowdhry comedy performance at the venue.

Mr. Jhala, his girlfriend, and his cousin are sitting behind Haye and his girlfriend.

“It appears Mr. Haye believes that some of the people in the back seat are saying derogatory things about him and his partner,” Mr. Bryan said.

“We said Mr. Haye put his hand around Mr. Jhala’s neck and threatened him, saying things with the consequences that if Mr. Jhala said anything more, he would kill him,” Mr Bryan added.

He told the court that Mr Jhala was not hurt by the incident, but that he was “shaking”.

The prosecutor added: “Security was aware of what happened, but did nothing about it.”

James Scobie KC, the defense, said his client’s case was that he never put his arm around Mr Jhala’s neck, and he did not threaten to kill him.

“Our clear case was ‘joint’, and there was never a threat of death,” he said.

Mr. Jhala gave evidence in court.

He said he attended this venue with his cousin and girlfriend.

Initially his group sat in the back, but they were later seated near the front of the venue by staff during that time.

Mr Jhala told the court he was not talking about Haye but instead talking about how delighted he and his friends were at getting a better seat.

CCTV footage of the incident shows Haye stepping over his chair and bending over to speak to Mr Jhala.

“He leaned over to me, started talking in my ear and put his hand around my throat,” Mr Jhala said.

He told the court that Haye had told him, “‘Say one more word and I’ll kill you.”

The witness added: “I felt threatened, I was shaking.”

Mr Jhala said he told Haye he didn’t say anything.

“I said, ‘I didn’t even say anything, what are you talking about? “”

Mr Scobie told the court the incident happened after his cousin Jhala, a boxing fan, asked for Haye’s autograph but was refused.

He said Mr Jhala and his cousin then started talking about Haye’s career, mentioning other boxers Amir Khan and Tony Bellew, and mentioning Haye injured his toe in a fight. fight.

Mr Scobie added that the conversation was an attempt to help Haye “rise up”.

“Pick people up, try to get ahead of him,” he said.

He said this was because his cousin Jhala felt “disrespectful” of Haye.

Mr Jhala denied that his cousin mentioned Tony Bellew before the incident, but admitted that his cousin raised Bellew afterwards.

Haye has fought Tony Bellew twice in his professional career, losing both times in 2017 and 2018.

Mr Scobie testified in court that Mr Jhala said of Haye’s girlfriend “she has to be with him” before his cousin replied “we don’t stand a chance”.

He added that Mr Jhala told his cousin that Haye’s girlfriend “must love you”, referring to black men.

“You made it clear, ‘she must love the brothers.'”

Following the alleged remark, Mr Scobie said that Haye then approached Mr Jhala.

“He put his left hand on your right shoulder,” Mr. Scobie said.

He said Haye then told Mr Jhala: “‘Don’t talk about me or my girlfriend anymore, that’s enough.”

“‘Otherwise I’ll kick you out.”

Mr Jhala has denied this version of events.

Mr Scobie said that Haye then combed Mr Jhala’s hair before sitting down.

Haye turned professional at the age of 22 and went on to become the cruiserweight world champion in 2008, winning three of the four major world titles.

The trial continues.

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button