Three men charged with offences relating to a late-night assault on Guardian journalist Owen Jones outside a pub in north London in August will have their cases heard in the Crown Court.
Highbury Corner Magistrates Court today sent the case to Snaresbrook Crown Court because the charges were deemed too serious to be dealt with by the lower court. The 35-year-old journalist, who was born in Sheffield and grew up in Stockport, said he had been celebrating his birthday with friends when he was attacked at about 2am outside the Lexington pub in Islington on 17 August.
James Healy, 39, from Portsmouth; Liam Tracey, 34, from Camden, London; and Charlie Ambrose, 29, from Brighton, were charged with actual bodily harm and affray. They did not enter a plea at the hearing and spoke only to confirm their names, address and nationality.
The men karate-kicked Jones to the ground in an attack motivated by his political and sexual views, the court heard.
The trio were told they had to appear at Snaresbrook CrownCcourt on 4 December. The three were granted bail on condition that they not to make contact with Jones in any way, and that they did not to enter the Lexington pub until the trial had concluded.
