I was fighting for my life, says battered bride accused

Jun 12 2008 by Liz Hands, The Journal

A TRAINED boxer told a court how he feared a furious bride and groom were going to kill him when they turned up at his door during a catering row the night before their wedding.

Kevin Forster’s partner Joyce Miller had been paid £150 to cater for 130 guests at Bernadette Henderson and Eric McGibbon’s reception at the Tatham Street Catholic Club in Hendon, Sunderland, on July 28 last year.

But the night before the ceremony Mrs Miller is claimed to have told the couple the money had been spent and their guests would go hungry.

Forster, 39, of Allendale Road, Farringdon, Sunderland, is accused of attacking the couple, leaving Miss Henderson with a black eye for her big day and permanent problems with her vision, when they turned up at his home to confront Mrs Miller, but denies assault causing bodily harm and causing grievous bodily harm. He told jurors at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday he was unaware Mrs Miller, his partner of just seven weeks, had been paid to do the catering, and knew nothing about the irate couple when they turned up at his door.

But he said during the violence that followed he was acting purely out of self defence. He told jurors: “I thought they were going to kill me, honestly I really, really did.

“I could see anger in their eyes, rage, I was fighting for my life, and that is the honest truth.

“If I didn’t do anything, the two of them would have left me on the sitting room floor lying in a pool of blood, and that’s the truth.”

Forster said his home was like a “butcher’s back yard” after the fracas. He said: “I was just sticking up for myself in my own house.”

He apologised to Mrs McGibbon from the witness box for the injury caused to her eye. He denies the charges. The trial continues.