The assault case against Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who is married to Olympic champion Tom Daley, has been dismissed mid-trial. Mr. Black was accused of assaulting Teddy Edwardes at a nightclub in Soho on 18 August 2022, allegedly twisting her wrist very hard.
However, the judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court dismissed the charge due to inconsistencies in Ms. Edwardes's evidence. She initially stated she couldn't remember a wrist grab but later claimed it did happen, creating an obvious contradiction. The judge also noted that the CCTV footage was unclear due to the camera angle.
As a result, Mr. Black and Mr. Daley did not have to take the stand. Mr. Black's defense argued that the prosecution failed to prove he grabbed Ms. Edwardes's wrist and that she had spilled her drink herself. It was also revealed that Ms. Edwardes had punched Mr. Black in the back of the head and received a police caution for it.
Mr. Black described the judge's dismissal as a "moment of exoneration" and expressed gratitude for the decision.