TV presenter Caroline Flack pleads not guilty to assaulting boyfriend https://t.co/ZbZTVHxbdw
— The Guardian (@guardian) December 23, 2019
Caroline Flack, presenter of the UK version of Love Island, was arrested and charged with assault by beating on December 12th. She appeared in court today and pleaded not guilty. She will stand trial on 4th March 2020 and is currently released on bail. The terms of her bail mean she cannot have any contact with her boyfriend, former tennis player Lewis Burton, either directly or indirectly (i.e. posting on social media).
BREAKING: Laura Whitmore confirmed to replace Caroline Flack on #LoveIsland https://t.co/TQShbFc1SL
— Metro Entertainment (@Metro_Ents) December 20, 2019
The first winter series of UK Love Island (series 6) is due to begin on January 12th 2020. Caroline was due to host it, as she has hosted every other series of UK Love Island since its revival in 2015. A few days after her arrest Caroline announced that she had stood down as host for series 6, though it seemed that both Caroline and ITV were leaving the door open for a possible return for series 7 onwards (summer 2020). Laura Whitmore has been announced as the host for series 6. Her boyfriend, Iain Stirling, has narrated the show since series 1.
[Details of the charges - warning for descriptions of violence]
TV presenter Caroline Flack is accused of beating her partner over the head with a lamp as he slept, over fears that he was cheating on her.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
Lewis Burton was left "covered in blood", it is said, and police officers likened it to a scene from a horror movie when they arrived.
It is claimed Mr Burton told police "she tried to kill me mate" when he called 999. He was "begging" police to come, as Flack could be heard calling him names and saying he had "ruined my life".
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
When police got there, Flack allegedly threatened to kill herself and had to be pinned to the ground when she flipped over a table. It is said she admitted striking her partner, and continue to verbally abuse him.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
Mr Burton was in court supporting Flack, and is not backing the prosecution. He has asked for the case to be dropped, and disputes the level of injury sustained.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
The court heard "accident" will be an issue, and she has made submissions to the CPS to not proceed with the case.
Flack's lawyer said today's not guilty plea was entered "reluctantly". Flack broke down in tears in the dock as the impact of the case was described. Mr Burton also put his head in his hands as details of the alleged assault were revealed for the first time.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
Flack wants her bail conditions lifted so that she can be reunited with Mr Burton for Christmas. However the prosecution are opposing, calling her "manipulative" and pointing out she breached her bail within days of her arrest with an Instagram message to her boyfriend.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
Flack's lawyer says they remain a couple, and pointed out the bail condition on non-contact were imposed before Mr Burton had made it clear he would not be a witness.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
He added: "It's xmas, it's New Year, Ms Flack has suffered enough".
Important to remember Flack pleaded not guilty to assault by beating today. There is due to be a trial in the New Year. The prosecution's case was outlined fairly fully today, Flack will put forward her defence fully at trial in March.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
Flack has failed to get bail conditions lifted ahead of her trial, so won’t be able to contact Mr Burton for the next couple of months. Trial on March 4.
— Tristan Kirk (@kirkkorner) December 23, 2019
SOURCE 1
SOURCE 2
SOURCE 3
← Ctrl ← Alt
Ctrl → Alt →
← Ctrl ← Alt
Ctrl → Alt →