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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Keith Hunt, 26 February 2019.
Sentencing for Richard Betts and others after violence outside The
Rising Sun in East Malling.
Four men and a woman are facing sentence after admitting their
involvement in a brawl outside a pub in which a father and son suffered
wounds.
Richard Betts, 52, Angela Smith, 43, Jake Marsden, 28, Keiren Dawson,
19, and 24-year-old Mark Mison were due to stand trial yesterday.
But the prosecution accepted various pleas and sentence was adjourned
until a two-week period beginning April 8.
Dawson, of Plover Road, Larkfield, and Mison, of Morris Close, East
Malling, admitted unlawfully wounding Ray Barnes Senior and Ray Barnes
Junior.
They had denied the more serious charges of wounding with intent to
cause grievous bodily harm.
Marsden, of Moorhen Road, Maidstone, denied assaulting Ray Barnes Snr,
causing actual bodily harm, and admitted common assault.
Betts and Smith, both now of Willowmead, Leybourne, denied affray and
admitted a lesser public order offence. Smith also admitted having an
offensive weapon, a metal bar.
The five were arrested after the violence outside in Mill Street, East
Malling, on November 11, 2017.
Prosecutor Serena Gates said Betts and Smith were of previous good
character.
Marsden had previous convictions and was in breach of a community order
imposed on February 12 last year for possessing cocaine.
Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said of the pleas: “I am glad common sense
has prevailed.”
Bail was continued.
Also arrested with the five was Betts’ son, also Richard, 23, who was
charged with assaulting Ray Barnes Snr, causing actual bodily harm in
Carnation Close and affray in Larkspur Close.
But he died after a fight at a house in Larkspur Close on June 25 last
year.
An independent investigation was ordered into Kent Police's response to
the incident.
Officers arrested a man in his 40s from the East Malling area. He was
later bailed.
Neighbours reported hearing shouting and screaming coming from the house
during the evening. A front window was smashed.
A post mortem examination took place and police said the cause of death
remained under investigation.
A voluntary referral was made to the Independent Office for Police
Conduct (IOPC) and the watchdog confirmed an independent investigation
would be launched.
Police have declined to make any further comment. |
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