Today, the investigating officer in charge of the investigation involving Roy Keane, the former captain of Manchester United, was charged with“lying” and “showing bias” by the defendant’s lawyer.
Scott Law, 43, an Arsenal season ticket holder, is charged with beating 52-year-old Keane and pushing him back through some doors at the Emirates Stadium on September 3, 2017.
At the conclusion of a 3-1 victory for Arsenal over Manchester United, where Keane was a Sky Sports analyst, the event took place.
Alejandro Garnacho’s goal that United believed to be the winner was rejected due to a VAR check moments before Arsenal’s thrilling victory.
Keane, who testified for nearly two hours yesterday, claimed that the headbutt had left him “in shock.”
He added: “I didn’t expect that to happen, not when I was in the workplace.”
Charlie Sherrard KC, however, stated on behalf of the defence that Keane was truly the aggressor. “as the red mist descended”, adding: “The only person who used gratuitous violence was you.”
Mr. Sherrard questioned Keane yesterday over his reputation as a “rough man” in football and remarks he had made on podcasts recently.
He played a better clip of the aftermath of the first altercation and implied that it captured Keane putting his right elbow into the defendant’s face and making contact with his nose.
Interrogating Detective Constable Phil Dickinson of the Metropolitan Police today, Mr. Sherrard asserted that the officer had not looked into any evidence that suggested the defendant’s guilt in the last eight months.
“We saw the upgraded tape yesterday, which makes it quite evident what happens after the allegation,” he stated. Are you implying, on oath, that there was no sleaze from Mr. Keane to Mr. Law?
DC Dickinson replied: “I don’t believe it was an intentional elbow, it appears he’s trying to grab or detain Mr Law. As he’s done so his arm is in an upright position, there may have been contact but it doesn’t look like a deliberate elbow to the face.”
To that, Mr Sherrard said: “I suggest that is nonsense and is an illustration of the bias you represent.”
He added: “Your job as an officer is to explore all avenues that point towards somebody and against them.”
Mr. Sherrard also asked why, in light of the claims that Keane was making motions throughout the game, police were not able to get footage from inside the Sky Sports studio that day. DC Dickinson responded that he had not been informed that any was available.
Prosecution witness Simon Jones informed the court today that following the defendant’s prepared statement to the police the day following the alleged attack, he responded to follow-up questions with “no remark.”
Additionally, he refrained from mentioning that Keane had called him a “fat c***”—as the court heard yesterday—and he did not provide an explanation for how he had broken his nose.
The prosecution alleges that he gave Keane a headbutt that caused his broken nose.
Keane’s fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards, who was seen on camera attempting to hold Law before letting go, will testify tomorrow morning.
Law, a Waltham Abbey resident, disputes the allegation of common assault.
The trial is still ongoing.
(James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
