26 February 2024 , 18:39
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Dustin Lance Black has claimed the UK government owes him an apology - and money - following a court case that collapsed last year.
The 49-year-old Hollywood screenwriter - who is married to 29-year-old Olympic diver Tom Daley - was taken to court by BBC presenter Teddy Edwardes in 2023. The 33-year-old presenter had claimed Black had assaulted her in a central London nightclub in August last year - but the case was thrown out of court by the judge after Edwardes’s evidence had been heard and it was dismissed as insufficient to warrant the case going any further.
While Black’s name was cleared as a result, he was left out of pocket by a reported £600,000. Now he has claimed he moved back to the USA along with his husband and their two young sons, five-year-old Robert and ten-month-old Phoenix, as he was so disappointed in the UK’s legal system.
He has taken aim at the UK government and the Crown Prosecution Service, saying he thinks they owe him an apology and money following the court drama. He also hinted that he has grown to “dislike” the UK as a result.
Black believes the UK government owes him an apology - and money - following a 2023 court case that collapsed (PA)Speaking to The Guardian, the Milk writer said: “This is no longer, you know, do I like or dislike a place? I think that the crown and the government owe me an apology. And I have not received it. I think they also owe me a lot of money.”
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After he was cleared of assault at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last November, Black released a statement where he expressed his relief at having his name cleared. He said at the time: "I am pleased that the judge saw the truth today and ruled in my favour. As the evidence has proven, and I have always maintained, I am completely innocent, and in fact, was the victim in this case of a serious assault. I am relieved this unfortunate matter is now over."
District Judge Louisa Ciecióra slammed Edwardes after her evidence was shared in court and decided to throw out the case. The judge said there were inconsistencies in Edwardes’ claim - as she had claimed Black had grabbed her wrist, causing her to spill her drink. CCTV footage also showed her hitting Black in the back of the head as he walked away from her.
Judge Ciecióra said as the case ended abruptly: “The defence submit that there’s no case to answer. Ms Edwardes said she didn’t see a difference between her drink being spilt and Mr Black grabbing her wrist; that the outcome is the same. But there is a difference. The charge was brought on Mr Black having grabbed her wrist. Grabbing a glass does not amount to an assault. Throwing a drink does amount to an assault - but that’s not what is being alleged here. Ms Edwardes’ account didn’t mention her wrist being grabbed until a very late stage.
“I didn’t consider her explanations - including that she was angry when she wrote some posts on social media, or that social media is not real life - to be at all constructive. I consider that the evidence, taken at its highest, is such that I cannot convict properly Mr Black of the charge. I therefore dismiss the charge.” The ruling also stipulated that the Crown needed to pay towards Black’s legal bills - though an exact figure was not disclosed in court.