Amy 'used unjustifiable violence'

Jul 23 2009

Singer Amy Winehouse reacted with "deliberate and unjustifiable violence" when a dancer politely asked her for a photograph at a charity ball, a court has heard.

Prosecutor Lyall Thompson said the 25-year-old singer appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or "some other substance" when she struck dancer Sherene Flash at the summer ball in Berkeley Square, central London, last September.

Winehouse, who performed at the ball before she is alleged to have assaulted Miss Flash gave her name as Amy Jade Civil at the start of her trial at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Winehouse, wearing a grey pinstripe skirt suit with a brown belt over a black T-shirt, sat quietly in the dock with her head bowed as the prosecution opened the case.

The court heard the incident happened in a dressing room at the event shortly after midnight on September 26. Mr Thompson said Miss Flash asked "politely" for a photograph of Winehouse. The court heard the star appeared reluctant at first but then agreed.

But Miss Flash was with a drunken friend called Kieran Connelly and as he tried to get into the photo which Miss Flash was taking Miss Winehouse punched Miss Flash to her right eye, the court heard.

Mr Thompson said: "It may be that it was that that annoyed Miss Winehouse. Miss Winehouse may have felt she had generously agreed to be photographed on her own and not with a drunken stranger." But he added: "This was a deliberate assault by Miss Winehouse. There was nothing accidental about Miss Winehouse's actions. She reacted badly to a polite request."

Miss Flash told the court Winehouse was "not in a good state" when the attack happened. She said: "She looked drunk. She looked maybe like she was on drugs or something."

Miss Flash, who admitted she was also "tipsy" after drinking a glass of red wine and three glasses of champagne during the evening, said she politely asked for the photo and Winehouse had agreed after a short delay.

She said she ushered her friend Mr Connelly into the photograph and that was when Winehouse struck out. Asked how close the "drunken stranger" got to the star, she said: "Not very close as she had people either side of her but that's when she punched me anyway." The trial continues.