Joey Barton Assault Case Resumes in London

Former footballer Joey Barton has been accused of assaulting his wife, Georgia Barton, after a night of heavy drinking at their home in Kew, South-West London in June 2021. Barton allegedly pushed Georgia to the ground and kicked her in the head, leaving her with a 'golf ball-sized' lump on her forehead. Both were said to have consumed up to five bottles of wine each during an evening with friends. Despite initially retracting her allegations, leading to a paused trial, the High Court ruled that the trial should proceed, finding the previous decision to halt it 'wrong in principle'. Barton, who denies the charges, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court for the hearing, where concerns were raised about the fairness of a trial without Mrs. Barton's testimony. The couple remains married, and the case has seen multiple legal developments, including an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions to resume proceedings.