A MAN who slashed open another man’s face after claiming that he had been head-butted and beaten with a pool cue was cleared of a charge of grave and criminal assault yesterday by a majority jury verdict.

It was accepted by an Assize jury that Russell Barton (34) acted in self-defence when he punched John Smith in the face, brandishing a blade and carving a 12-cm long gash across his right cheek.

Mr Smith said that Barton launched a vicious attack on him in the Eagle Tavern after he stood up for a woman Barton had insulted and told him to give it a rest.

Mr Smith said that Barton hit him on the jaw, fled the pub and returned with the blade ten minutes later, but that he himself had not retaliated at any stage of the scuffle.

Photographic evidence and a statement from police doctor Michael Holmes were presented to the jury, showing a number of injuries found on Barton’s body after his arrest the same night.

Dr Holmes said that Barton had a fractured nose, consistent with a head-butt, a tramline abrasion across his torso, probably from a pool cue, and a number of defence bruises caused by kicks and punches.

None of the other witnesses in the trial saw the fight break out, none could vouch for the aggressor, and none could remember seeing the woman.