Man faces two additional charges of grave and criminal assault

Thursday 17 March 2022

A twenty-eight year old man is now facing a further two assault charges, as his trial in the Royal Court enters its fourth day.

Josh Lyons (28) denies all four counts of grave and criminal assault.

He is being accused of grabbing a woman by her neck, before lifting her up and throwing her to the ground. He is also now facing charges for threatening her with a knife and kicking her ankle.

On the third day of the trial, the defendant opted to give evidence himself, and was asked by defending Advocate David Steenson, to recall the events leading up to the night of the alleged assault. 

"Did you react in any physical stage?" Advocate Steenson asked the defendant. 

"Not initially, no" Mr Lyons replied. He explained that he got into a heated argument with the alleged victim, and that she got very close to him, which resulted in him pushing her back, and her falling to the floor and hurting her ankle. 

Advocate Steenson then asked the defendant why he said "sorry for hurting you physically"? Mr Lyons responded saying he was referring to him pushing her to the floor.

Two doctors were also asked to give accounts of how the bruises could have been formed on the alleged victim's neck.

Firstly, Dr Deryn Evans suggested to the court that the bruising was consistent with someone putting pressure on the neck, but she couldn't be certain when it had happened. 

Next Dr Martin Barrett told the court that the bruises were consistent with fingertip pressure, but his opinion was that if the woman had been picked up by her neck and walked across the room, then there would normally be more bruising.

The trial continues today in the Royal Court.