Everyone is reminded that Steven is deemed innocent unless a court verdict says otherwise. Please think before posting.
by The Mail
England and Liverpool star Steven Gerrard 'punched man like a boxer' in bar rowngland footballer Steven Gerrard 'totally lost it' and hit a man 'with the style and speed of a professional boxer' during a row over music, a court heard today.
The Liverpool captain launched the assault on businessman Marcus McGee, 34, after he refused to hand over control of a CD player at a bar last year, it was alleged.
The 29-year-old was with friends at the Lounge Inn, in Southport, Merseyside,on December 29 when his party clashed with McGee, a member of another group.
The footballer lost his temper and confronted Mr McGee before a brawl broke out involving six of his friends.
Gerrard has today learned he will face charges relating to the Merseyside bar-room brawl alone after six co-defendants admitted taking part in the melee.
Their admission means only Gerrard will face trial for a charge of affray in which Mr McGee was injured.
Five of the defendants admitted affray, and one admitted a lesser charge of section 4 threatening behaviour at Liverpool Crown Court.
John McGrattan, 34, admitted threatening behaviour after denying affray while Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, John Doran, 29, and Paul McGrattan, 31, admitted affray. Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, and Ian Dunbavin, 28 also admitted affray.
Today, David Turner QC, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that Gerrard became enraged after asking McGee for a card controlling the CD player, saying: 'Here y'are lad. Give me that lad.'
Mr Turner said: 'Mr McGee took offence at his attitude and the expression 'lad' and he refused. Not many people on Merseyside, or indeed anywhere else, would refuse a request from Steven Gerrard but Mr McGee did.
'There can be no doubt that this refusal astounded Steven Gerrard. He walked away back to his party but the CCTV shows how much his mood had changed.
'He was no longer the centre of that high spirited party.
'He was clearly walking around pondering, musing over what had happened - about the man who said 'no' to Steven Gerrard.'
After about six minutes Gerrard returned to the victim who was sitting alone at the bar and allegedly confronted him with the words: 'Who the f *** do you think you are?'
Mr McGee, who was not a DJ but was in charge of music for the night, stood up to Gerrard, Mr Turner said.
The pair were head to head, he said, 'in the sort of hostile confrontation that is often seen between professional footballers'.
The barrister added: 'Steven Gerrard had clearly lost his cool: he was angry with Marcus McGee.'
The situation attracted the millionaire's friends. One, John Doran, who has admitted affray, pushed McGee away but 'could not resist following through with his right elbow into Mr McGee's face', said Mr Turner. 'We say at this stage Gerrard totally lost it.
'Almost immediately after the blow from John Doran, in fact within seconds, Steven Gerrard joined in the attack with a succession of well aimed uppercut punches delivered with the style and speed of a professional boxer rather than a professional footballer.'
Earlier in the day, a 20-strong jury panel was ushered into court this morning to be asked a series of questions about the case. As well as facing standard questions about their employment and knowing witnesses, Judge Henry Globe QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, pressed potential jurors about footballing loyalty.
Reading a question given to them, he said: 'The jury oath or affirmation requires a jury to faithfully try the defendant and give a true verdict according to the evidence.
'Do you confirm that you would be able to put aside any football loyalty or partiality and to take and abide by the strict terms of the oath or affirmation?'
The hearing was adjourned for the panel to answer the questions.
