Latest news with #HoveCrownCourt
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man died after blood clot went to lung, jury hears
A man died six weeks after an unproved attack as a blood clot from his injured ankle travelled and blocked an artery in his lung, a court has heard. Hove Crown Court heard that Lucian Sorenau, 32, attacked father-of-two Anthony Barrigan in Windsor Street, Brighton, on 18 June 2022. The 44-year-old, who told police his ankle had been "snapped", died unexpectedly weeks later from a pulmonary thromboembolism on 1 August. Mr Sorenau denies manslaughter, actual bodily harm and affray. The jury heard police were called to a delivery bay in central Brighton at about 22:30 BST, following reports of an assault on Mr Barrigan and his girlfriend Sarah Chollerton. Ben Irwin for the Crown said Mr Barrigan provided a witness statement before his death. Mr Irwin said: "He set out how he had been confronted by a complete stranger who attacked him without warning. "He describes how he tried to fight back but couldn't." Mr Irwin explained that Mr Barrigan felt the attacker stamp on his right ankle. "He describes the most excruciating pain he had felt in his life," he added. Mr Barrigan went on to collapse at home and paramedics were unable to save him. Two years after the incident, Mr Sorenau was charged with manslaughter. Mr Irwin told the jury Mr Barrigan died as a result of the injuries from the attack. The court was told Mr Sorenau, who Mr Irwin said left the scene, would say he was acting in self defence. Mr Irwin told the jury: "You will be sure Lucian Sorenau was not acting in self defence when he was punching Anthony Barrigan and Sarah Chollerton. "And he was not acting in self defence when Anthony Barrgian was on the ground and not able to offer any aggression or threat at all." The trial continues. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Woman did not say 'no', former inspector tells jury
A former police inspector who is charged with sexual assault by penetration told a court the alleged victim did not say "no". Mike Sinden, 36, of Hove, East Sussex, and the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been drinking heavily in Eastbourne as part of a group in March 2022 before the alleged incident, Hove Crown Court was told. The father of two has denied pinning the woman against a wall in an alleyway and sexually assaulting her. The woman said she told the inspector "no" as he sexually assaulted her. Mr Sinden told the jury they had been flirting and kissing earlier in the evening after drinking shots and going to a cocktail bar. Rachel Beckett, prosecuting, told him the kissing did not happen, but Mr Sinden insisted it did. In regards to the claim Mr Sinden pinned the woman to a wall in an alley, Ms Beckett told him: "She was moving away from you, turning her face, and she said 'no' to you." Mr Sinden said it was one kiss and that she did not say "no". Ms Beckett told the court: "You held her against the wall and she tried to move your hand away and all this time she was saying 'no' to you." Mr Sinden denied this and again said the woman did not say "no". He also denied telling her: "You're saying 'no' but I think you're actually saying 'yes'." The woman tried to push his hand away as he moved it under her dress, Ms Beckett said. She told the jury: "She then managed to push him away and said 'I said no'." In court, Mr Sinden also denied moving to take off his trousers after the woman pushed him away. The court heard that the following day, the woman sent Mr Sinden a message saying: "I don't feel great about any of it and I'm trying to forget but I definitely said no to you." Mr Sinden deleted his replies as he did not want his partner to see them and did not want to be "drawn into a conversation", the jury heard. Mr Sinden, who worked as an inspector in custody suites across Sussex, denies sexual assault by penetration. The trial continues. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Police officer attacked woman in alley, court told HM Courts & Tribunals Service
