Jury discharged from Darius Henderson trial at St Albans Crown Court

THE jury in the case of a footballer from a St Albans village who was charged with grievous bodily harm following an assault at a local restaurant has today (Thursday) been discharged by the judge.

Nottingham Forest striker Darius Henderson and his girlfriend were allegedly confronted during a New Year’s Eve celebration by a woman who repeatedly claimed she had recently had sex with him, a jury at the St Albans Crown Court heard yesterday (Wednesday).

Henderson, 31, of Green Lane, Markyate, pleads not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to John Bell, now 40, on January 1, 2012.

The crown court heard yesterday that a night out for the footballer, a former Millwall and Watford striker, and his girlfriend at Darcys Restaurant on Hatfield Road turned sour when they were confronted by Hazel Kent.

It was alleged that when Mr Bell tried to calm the situation down Henderson threw two punches and knocked him to the floor, causing a fracture to his cheek bone and a cut to his eye socket.

Police and an ambulance were called. Henderson left and was arrested near the restaurant a short while later.

When questioned Henderson said he was acting in self defence.

Witnesses were to be called today, but Judge Martin Griffith told the five men and seven women at the crown court that the case could not continue because a witness was working on a sheep farm in Australia and therefore unavailable.

No new date has been fixed for the trial.