PC baby trial: Accused officer 'had bruises on knuckles' (From Thisisdorset)
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PC baby trial: Accused officer 'had bruises on knuckles'
10:00am Saturday 1st September 2012 in Latest By Paula Roberts
ON TRIAL: Matthew Cherry arrives at court
A POLICE officer accused of attacking his pregnant ex-girlfriend had bruises on his knuckles that evening, a court heard yesterday.
Matthew Cherry, 35, is accused of repeatedly punching Caroline Craft when she was six months pregnant in the face, stomach and back in an attempt to harm his unborn baby.
The jury at Winchester Crown Court yesterday heard from Nicola Durrant-Lewis who spoke to Cherry on the early evening of March 24 last year at a house he was renovating in Parkstone Avenue, Poole.
She said Cherry, of Dorset Police , said he’d injured his hands during his renovation work and showed her his “war wounds”.
“At that time he’d injured his hands by scraping tiles in the back bathroom with a chisel. He said he’d been using the chisel and had accidentally hit it with a hammer.
“There was some bruising on his hands on a couple of his knuckles.” During cross examination Miss Durrant-Lewis told the court she had spoken to Cherry about the baby and he had got his “head around” becoming a father.
“I never sensed any aggression from Matt.”
The prosecution claim he forced his way into her flat at Norwich Mansions, Bournemouth, on March 24 last year wearing a balaclava, hoodie and gloves.
It is alleged Cherry went to and from the scene carrying a vacuum cleaner and the jury have heard from an expert witness who concluded there is moderate support for two men caught on CCTV carrying a vacuum cleaner being the same man, and limited support for that man being Cherry.
The court also heard from forensic scientist David Joyce who examined partial footprints found at the scene and said they were consistent with having been left by a size 10 Nike Dark V trainer.
No such shoes were found at Cherry’s home but police did recover a Nike box which originally contained an identical pair of shoes, the Crown Court was told.
Cherry, now of Wimpson Lane, Southampton, denies attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
The trial continues.
