Yahoo News Ferne McCann's ex Arthur Collins 'wore T-shirt with Killer written on it' during nightclub acid attack
The ex-boyfriend of TOWIE star Ferne McCann allegedly threw acid three times on a nightclub dancefloor, a court has heard.
Arthur Collins, 25, who is also the father of McCann’s unborn child, is on trial today after 16 people were injured at the Wringer and Mangle nightclub in Dalston, east London, on April 17.
Collins and co-defendant Andre Phoenix were charged after clubbers were doused with a corrosive substance following ‘some pushing and shoving’ between a group of men at the club.
Collins, who was said to be wearing a T-shirt with ‘Killer’ written across the front of it, and his pal Phoenix were armed with acid when they arrived at the club, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutor Luke Ponte told the jury at Wood Green Crown Court the incident started with an altercation between a group of men, with some pushing and shoving.
He added: ‘It is not clear exactly how this trouble started. But it is very clear how it ended – suddenly and decisively, and not at all in keeping with what had gone before.
‘One of the young men, perhaps perceiving the threat of a knife, threw a bottle or a container of acid into the face of another young man.
‘As that man went down in pain, the aggressor threw acid a second time directed towards another man, and then threw acid a third time.’
Mr Ponte added: ‘There is no question as to who threw the acid. It was Arthur Collins. He does not dispute that he threw the acid and it is perhaps not surprising that he does not dispute it as the confrontation, the first throw, the second throwing and the third throwing are all captured quickly but clearly on the club’s CCTV.’
The CCTV, which was shown to the jury, showed an argument involving the co-accused Andre Phoenix and other men before the acid was thrown.
Further recording images show Arthur Collins allegedly throwing acid over Phoenix’s shoulder, hitting one victim on the face.
The footage then allegedly shows Collins apparently throwing the corrosive substance twice more as the dancefloor clears.
Mr Ponte continued: ‘The Crown’s case is that these two friends came to the club together, armed with acid together, they stayed together, got drunk together, got in a fight together, threw it together, stayed around together and finally left together.’
Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, denies five counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, and 11 counts of actual bodily harm against 16 people.
Phoenix, of Clyde Road, Tottenham, denies the same offences.
A trial is expected to last at least three weeks.
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