03 August 2005
MEMBERS of martial arts club in Tottenham have welcomed the appeal court’s quashing of the conviction of a 23-year-old man jailed for a racist attack.
Patrick Bryant, an instructor at the Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy in Park Lane, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and jailed for eight years in May 2004.
Prosecutors claimed he stabbed a black youth in the face with a bottle and slashed another man’s arm in an unprovoked attack outside Angel Tube station on July 11, 2003.
But the conviction was thrown out by the Court of Appeal last Thursday - because of the trial judge’s “irritable” behaviour.
The appeal court heard how Mr Bryant of Colinsdale, Camden Passage, Islington, felt his case was subject to “scorn and derision” from 72-year-old Judge Nicholas Medawar.
The prosecutor in Mr Bryant’s case told the appeal court how Judge Medawar would “roll his eyes, shake his head, throw down his pen or interject with a comment” during the defence case.
Ordering a re-trial, Lord Justice Judge said it “was not right” for a trial judge to give the impression he favoured one side over the other.
Mr Bryant’s supporters, who have campaigned for his release, say they are delighted.
Sid Sofos, who runs the Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy in Park Lane, Tottenham, where Mr Bryant worked as an instructor, said: "We’ve been behind him. We’re not surprised about this decision. It’s what we’ve been saying.
"Patrick was a lovely lad who joined in with the multi-racial society that we have here. He dedicated so much of his time to helping the community and he was certainly not a racist.
“We are confident the truth will now come to light and we hope Patrick will be freed.”
Leo Hume-Wright, another instructor at the school, added: “Patrick is an intelligent individual who has never showed any sign of losing his temper. He is a greatly loved and respected member of our multi-racial school.”
tom.mackenzie@archant.co.uk