September 22, 2010 10:51

The Zutons' Dave McCabe denies assault charge

Singer says he acted in self defence over headbutt claims

Photo Gallery: The Zutons

The Zutons frontman Dave McCabe has appeared in court to defend himself over
accusations that he headbutted a man for laughing at a comment insulting his girlfriend.

The singer told a jury at Liverpool Crown Court that he acted in self-defence when he broke student Peter Appleby's nose because he was scared of being attacked. He denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

McCabe commentated on CCTV footage of the incident, which took place at 03.30 GMT on February 21 outside the city's Korova bar on Hope Street, during day two of his trial.

He said he had visited the bar with his girlfriend, two brothers and other friends after attending his mother's 60th birthday party.

The Zutons frontman told the court five students approached them as they left the club and insulted his girlfriend, who was wearing a fur-collared coat.

"The group of men stood next to us and one of them said to my girlfriend, 'You look like you have got a beard,'" he said, before he admitted his girlfriend responded by calling one of them a name.

The group was "laughing and sniggering", he added, so he approached them to "smooth things over", reports BBC News.

However, he claims Appleby swore at him and told him to go away. "They were surrounding me and I said they couldn't pick on us like that," McCabe said.

"He raised his hand and I could tell from his body language that he was going to punch me so I headbutted him and backed off."

Cross-examined by prosecuter Ben Morris, The Zutons singer said he had drunk three glasses of wine and five bottles of beer.

McCabe admitted he was drunk, but denied doing anything to provoke the attack. The trial continues.

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