John Terry: Don’t read my lips - Trial bid to ban lip-reading flops

Posted Saturday, March 17, 2012 by The Sun

John Terry: Don’t read my lips - Trial bid to ban lip-reading flops
Pursed ... soccer ace Terry's lips at precise moment he allegedly uttered word 'black'

Judge Riddle expressed surprise that the footballer was not at the hearing — which was held at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London. He asked the barrister: "Do we know why Mr Terry isn't here?" Mr Carter-Stephenson replied: "I think we didn't appreciate he needed to attend."
The judge said: "Of course I accept he doesn't have to be here — but I would find it helpful if he were."

He refused to rule the lip evidence inadmissable before the trial gets under way this summer.

Judge Riddle decreed: "It would be wrong in principle to try to decide this on paper without hearing the evidence. I propose to follow what is, in my view, the invariable practice — and that's to hear all the evidence."

The offence the footballer is charged with can only be tried in a magistrates' court. It carries a maximum fine of £2,500.

Mr Carter-Stephenson said the defence would call witnesses to make "positive assertions" about Terry's character to show he is not a racist.

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