Issue 28 // Friday November 5 2010

The independent student newspaper of the University of Shefeld // www.forgetoday.com

Caitlin Rose
Fuse pages 8-9

Law students Carnage police attack

Female police ofcer suffered dislocated knee
Matt Burgess A University of Shefeld student has appeared in court charged with actual bodily harm against a police ofcer. Law student Jamie McGregor denies assaulting Sgt Katherine Wallis during an alleged scufe while on a Carnage bar crawl on February 21. Sgt Wallis suffered a dislocated knee, broken tooth, and facial injuries. Shefeld Crown Court was told McGregor had gone out to celebrate his 20th birthday, and was outside Players Bar on West Street when the scufe broke out. McGregor was dressed in an orange jumpsuit for the Carnage event, where over 2,000 students attended a city centre bar crawl dressed as cops and robbers. The disturbance occurred after McGregor saw friends ahead of him in the queue for Players Bar and tried to join them. McGregor told the court: There was a lengthy queue. I noticed some of my friends had already reached the front of the queue. I tried to join them at the front. The bouncers came over and began talking. The court heard that McGregor entered a heated debate with bouncers and this led to them pushing him and telling him to go to the back of the queue. Police ofcers saw the incident and intervened. Five ofcers were needed to restrain McGregor after he had been taken across the road away from the bar. McGregor said: I was being dragged across the road by the police. I heard a lot of shouting and that was it. I was confused to as what was going on. Sgt Wallis was injured in an incident when restraining McGregor and spray was used to help restrain him. Originally from Stockport, McGregor started his degree in 2008 and was in his second year at the time of the incident. His studies were suspended when the University was informed of the alleged assault. He is now retaking his second year. Prosecutor Paul Reid said: The defendant is quite clearly the catalyst outside Players Bar. Instead of turning his anger inwards he turned it well and truly outwards. A scufe broke out and the defendant lashed out with his sts. He was throwing punches and had lost control of himself Defence barrister Dermot Hughes claimed police were heavy handed. Summarising, he said: Was there any reason at all for them to take hold of Jamie McGregor? Is it possible the police were to anxious to nip in the bud any potential disruption? Giving evidence in court, Adam Barlow, a friend of McGregors from Stockport who was visiting for McGregors birthday, said: I would say he had it in his mind he didnt want to be arrested. I believe it was unjust. Third year Politics student Alexa Fullerton said in court that she saw police ofcers kicking McGregor when he was on the oor: The police were sort of kicking and using their feet. Fullerton and Barlow said that McGregor was not aggressive and did not raise or clench his sts. Fullerton said: I would say he hasnt done anything at all. Philip Laing, a Shefeld Hallam University student, caused national outrage at a previous Carnage event in Shefeld after urinating on a city centre war memorial. As Forge Press went to print, the jury had retired to consider their verdict. Read the nal outcome of the case at ForgeToday.com

McGregor chuckles on his way to court.

Photo: Mikey Smith

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