Margo acted for a woman accused of causing actual bodily harm after biting a police officer’s hand. The Defendant was facing eviction and tried to get past the bailiff to get into her flat and retrieve belongings. A police officer pushed her against the wall and handcuffed her.

The Defendant said he was hurting her and then bit his hand, drawing blood. In the ensuing fracas the police officer’s nose was broken. The defence case was that the bite was in self-defence, and the broken nose was not caused by the Defendant.

The case turned on the Defendant’s evidence that, as a black woman, she felt that her life was at risk. The Complainant said that he had to have months of physical therapy and still had flashbacks from the bite. The jury returned a Not Guilty verdict.

Margo was instructed by Zachary Whyte and Ruby Breward at Sperrin Law.