Bouncer acquitted (From Warrington Guardian)

Bouncer acquitted

of biting

off love

rival's ear

A BOUNCER wept with relief and thanked the jury after he was cleared of biting a love rival's ear off.

Former Mr Smith's doorman Paul Lund, aged 28, held his face in his hands and said 'thank you, thank you' after the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

Lund, a campaigner against domestic violence who teaches self-defence to women, had been accused of biting off the ear off Carl Musker, an ex-boyfriend of Lund's fiance Kirsty Currier, aged 20.

Warrington Crown Court heard that on June 10 last year, Mr Musker had been drinking in the Vue Bar in Widnes, when he was asked outside by Mr Lund - who was on his night off and sober - to talk about hostilities between the pair.

John Philpotts, prosecuting, said that Mr Musker was then chased by the defendant, who jumped on him, punched him, then bit his ear off.

One witness - too young to be named - said she saw Mr Lund return to the bar 'spitting' and overhead him say to someone 'I've bitten his ear off and battered him' - words he denied ever saying.

But defending, Robert Wynn-Jones said that although undeniably assaulted, Mr Musker was mistaken in thinking his client was his attacker.

"It's obvious something was going on between Paul Lund and Carl Musker.

"There's always history," Mr Wynn-Jones told the jury.

Mr Musker's description of his attacker did not match Paul Lund and evidence from his 'gruesome and bloody' injuries were inconclusive.

Mr Lund admitted chasing Mr Musker but having been outrun, called out to a bystander to stop him.

It was this unidentified third man, described in court as 'Mr X', who intervened and committed the assault, he said.

Speaking after the trial, Mr Lund, who is set to marry Miss Currier this summer, said he was looking forward to going back to work having been banned from door supervision and fitness instructing while on bail.

"The impact of this hanging over us has been really bad but we've coped," he said.

"My life is all about helping people. I can get back on with that now."