A rugby player has been acquitted of gouging out an opponent's eye.Richard Merrett, 39, was alleged to have attacked his opponent Matthew Rolls during a rugby match on December 1, 2018.
Mr Merrett, who plays for Welsh -based rugby team Penarth RFC, was charged with unlawfully wounding Mr Rolls, who had yelled out in "extreme" pain at the defendant's "full grip" on his left eye before receiving eight stitches, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Wales Online reports, however, that the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict on January 19 after deliberating for approximately two hours.
Mr Merrett showed little emotion when the verdict was announced. The trial had opened on January 18 with evidence from Mr Merrett, Mr Rolls, and the match's referee Neil Pruett as well as the Cefn Coed coach Damien Regis and the team's full back Chris Evans.Prosecutor Tom Roberts claimed Mr Merrett had "forcibly pressed his fingers into the eye socket" of Mr Rolls during a ruck, which involves players competing for the ball on the ground.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk