Defendant in Banbury petrol bomb case 'was set up', court told (From Banbury Cake)

Defendant in Banbury petrol bomb case 'was set up', court told

8:50am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

A MAN accused of throwing a petrol bomb at a group of people was “set up” by his girlfriend and her family, a judge was told.

Alice Greatbatch, father James Greatbatch, Tommy Butler and Harry Williams conspired to break a bottle and pour petrol over it to frame Yisa Hassan-Sule, it was alleged.

Darren Snow, defending, said at Oxford Crown Court yesterday his client went to Balmoral Avenue, Banbury, home of Ms Greatbatch’s father, on December 3, 2011, to speak with her. They left in his car after Hassan-Sule was punched by Mr Greatbatch, he said. But 999 calls alleged he returned and threw a petrol bomb at them, striking a wall.

Hassan-Sule, 28, of Broughton Close, Banbury, denies attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and affray.

Mr Snow pointed to “inconsistencies” in witness accounts of how he allegedly threw the bottle and no forensic evidence linked him to the glass.

He said: “Her actions are totally inconsistent with her account.

“The reason they got it so wrong, I suggest to you, is there was an agreement to lie about this petrol bomb. But these people, far from being criminal masterminds, are simply incapable of a credible lie.”

The prosecution said a dog bowl with traces of petrol was discovered by a detective in Hassan-Yule’s flat – but the defence said a visit by officers earlier the same day did not find the bowl, pointing to a “set-up”.

Nigel Daly, prosecuting, branded a conspiracy “far fetched”.

The jury retired to consider its verdict and is due to continue deliberations this morning.