CARDIFF man Jasey Austin-Drennan was found not guilty on two charges of assault after being accused of wounding two men with a broken bottle.
The case was recently heard at Swansea Crown Court, where the 20-year-old pleaded not guilty to charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, along with two alternative charges of unlawful wounding.
The incidents occurred on Friday (Feb 3) 2023, at a property on Victoria Terrace in Aberystwyth. Austin-Drennan, who previously lived on College Street in Lampeter and now resides on Alfred Street in Cardiff, is accused of attacking the two complainants at this address.
During the hearing, the prosecution alleged that Austin-Drennan used a broken bottle during the assault. However, he claims he acted in self-defence.
On Wednesday (Sep 25) the court deliberated on whether to proceed with Section 18 offences. Section 18, about grievous bodily harm, falls under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This offence involves wounding or causing serious injury with intent, potentially resulting in a life sentence, and is just one step away from a murder charge if the victim dies.
The Crown Prosecution Service reviewed overnight footage from a hospital conversation between a police officer and one of the victims, revealing contradictions in the prosecution’s case. The footage suggested that one of the victims may have provoked the defendant before the incident escalated. According to the evidence, Austin-Drennan struck the bottle, causing it to break on impact, which became a crucial factor in evaluating whether the bottle was used as a weapon intentionally.
CPS did not provide any evidence for counts 1 and 3, which related to the defendant’s use of the bottle during the altercation. As a result, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. The case will now proceed to sentencing for a separate charge, which Austin-Drennan pleaded guilty to the previous day. Despite his prior good character, the court will consider an appropriate sentence, with a final hearing expected in approximately three weeks.
