Dizzee Rascal loses appeal for assaulting ex-fiancée
Grime star Dizzee Rascal lost her case after being found guilty of assaulting her ex-fiancée.
The cranky performer, 38, whose real name is Dylan Mills, was found guilty at a trial last April of assaulting Cassandra Jones by pressing his forehead against hers and pushing her down. floor during a “chaotic” argument at her home in south London in June 2021.
The musician, who is known for chart-topping singles Bonkers and Dance Wiv Me, sat quietly in the dock at London Inner Court as his appeal against his conviction and conviction was dismissed. .
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who is sitting with the panel, said they were “pleased” the case was resolved “in the manner that Crown alleged” and that Mills had “used her forehead to push Ms. ” room.
During the trial, Mills, who had two children with Ms Jones before they split in February 2021, is said to have ‘bolted’ into the home, banging his head on the refrigerator three times while hugging his son and arresting him. head “screaming” at his ex-partner and her mother Dawn Kirk.
The judge said Ms Kirk was a “convincing” witness whose evidence in the appeals process was “balanced” about the angry scenes she witnessed that night.
Ms Jones had previously told the appeal hearing that she had “fallen to the ground” after Mills “pushed his forehead against mine and pushed me around the room”.
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The appeal was dismissed at Inner London Court (Jordan Pettitt/PA).
She said: “He got to his red mist where he didn’t care.
Giving evidence on Friday, Mills denied the claims and said he was not angry when he arrived at the house.
He told the court that Ms Jones was “hostile” to him when he went to her home.
Mills said he had had a “good day” with his family a few hours earlier.
He said he wasn’t in a “bad mood” when he got home but was “upset” that Ms Jones had repeatedly contacted him about why he was late.
The court heard that in one of their exchanges, he told her she had sent him “petty provocative text messages” and that “you don’t deserve my time.” With so much time and energy, I’m only here for the kids.”
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Mills said that everyone in the house spoke up when a money argument broke out between the musician, his ex-fiancée, and Miss Kirk.
He said he went to the kitchen and asked Miss Kirk “why did she let Cassie use my children as weapons against me”.
Mills said of Ms Jones that “she yelled at me” before adding “we all screamed, it was so loud”.
Alleging that she hit him with her cell phone, he said: “She hit me. She hit me a few times and she scratched me. She hit me on the phone.”
He added: “I took it off her. She hit me and hit me again.
In a prepared statement sent to police after Mills was arrested, he said he had a scratch on his left arm following the attack and this was recorded by a nurse, the court heard. judge.
Mills described himself as “calm and relaxed” when police arrived but the court said he told them “I am the aggressor”.
When asked by defense attorney Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC why he made that comment, Mills replied, “I’m just clarifying and joking.”
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Dizzee Rascal released her debut album 20 years ago (Ian West/PA)
She asked him, “Did you ever do anything, while at the facility, to assault Cassie?”
Mills replied, “I don’t.”
At one point during the argument that night, Mills took Miss Jones and her mother’s cell phones away from them.
Prosecutor Helena Duong suggested to Mills the “real reason” behind this was because he wanted to thwart any attempts to call the police for help.
Mills replied, “No, I took it because she hit me.”
The court had previously heard that Ms Jones claimed he had reduced her “benefits” from £2,000 to £1,800 when she “behave badly”.
Ms Jones denied the context of the controversy on the day of the alleged attack was about money.
On Friday, Mills said he always provides financial support for Ms Jones and her children, and he does not use his wealth to control her.
“I think it’s not fair,” he told the court. I don’t understand. I paid all the bills and when she got anything for the kids she would bill me.”
Mills added: “I don’t understand why I need to control her.”
In April 2022, Mills received community orders, including a 24-week curfew and a 12-month ban banning him from contacting his former partner, as well as being ordered to pay £2,190 in expenses. and £95 surcharge.
These penalties have not been changed and the ban is due to expire in April.
Mills was also asked to pay £620 the cost of the appeal.
Mills, who released his debut album Boy In Da Corner, in 2003, was awarded an MBE for music services in honor of the Queen’s Birthday in 2020.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/dizzee-rascal-loses-appeal-against-conviction-for-assaulting-ex-fiancee-42316574.html Dizzee Rascal loses appeal for assaulting ex-fiancée