12:50pm Tuesday 17th November 2009
By Faye Dickson
A SEMI-professional footballer from Newport is on trial for allegedly fracturing an opposition player’s jaw by punching him in the face twice.
Ashley Williams, a former Newport County striker, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm on Joel Smith during a seven-a-side match at Newport International Sports Village on July 15, 2007.
The jury at Cardiff crown court heard yesterday that Williams, 23, of George Lansbury Drive, Ringland, was playing for A and E Electronics when Mr Smith, defending for Fifa7, tackled him and the pair allegedly exchanged insults.
James Wilson, prosecuting, said Mr Smith walked away but Williams followed him and punched him twice in the jaw from behind.
The court heard the pair then got into a scuffle and were separated by their team mates.
Williams was sent off by the referee and Mr Smith continued to play for ten minutes until he asked to be substituted because he was in pain.
Mr Smith, a bricklayer, told the jury he did not initially feel the pain because his adrenalin was running high from the match, but could feel his jaw wobbling and his teeth did not line up.
He went to the Royal Gwent Hospital the next day because he was still in pain and an x-ray revealed he had fractured his jaw and needed an operation.
Christopher Rees, defending, suggested to Mr Smith that he had exaggerated the incident to get compensation.
He claimed Williams only punched Mr Smith once and that he injured his jaw a few minutes later when he stooped low to head a ball and was kicked by an opposition player.
Mr Smith denied this and said he did not come into contact with any other players or the ball between the scuffle and being substituted.
Proceeding.
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