Joe Cordina cleared of petrol station assault

A district judge has cleared former world boxing champion Joe Cordina of assault by beating. The 34-year-old faced trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court over an incident at Pentwyn service station in Cardiff in February.

Court ruling and evidence

District Judge Charlotte Murphy found Cordina not guilty against Jamie O'Brien, 33. CCTV footage showed O'Brien pushing Cordina with his shoulder before Cordina punched him. The judge said she was satisfied that Cordina believed it was necessary to use force to defend himself. She described the punch as single, measured and controlled. She said Cordina had approached O'Brien in good faith, believing he was a fan.

O'Brien, from Pentwyn, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating. Police began to investigate after footage of the altercation was circulated online. The judge ruled there was no evidence that O'Brien knew the person who was filming.

Cordina's lawyer Nadeem Majid said Cordina had always maintained he is innocent. Majid added that Cordina would now like to concentrate on his family and his boxing. He said they would all like to see him on the bill in December.

Cordina, a two-time IBF super-featherweight champion, told the court he initially thought O'Brien wanted a photograph. He said he acted in self-defence because he felt threatened after O'Brien assaulted him. Cordina said O'Brien had his hands in his pockets and he did not know what people carry on them.

District Judge Charlotte Murphy had previously ruled there was no case to answer in relation to a second charge of assault. She dismissed the charge against Cordina.

Sources

• Sky Sports

• BBC Sport

• Photo: Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament from Wales, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)