Ben Stokes appeared at court on Monday as his trial for affray began.
England cricketer Ben Stokes appeared at court on Monday, as his trial for affray began.
Stokes, 27, who starred on Saturday as England beat India at Edgbaston, is being tried alongside 27-year-old Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, 28. They each deny the charge of affray.
The all-rounder and two other men are jointly charged over a fracas in Bristol on September 25 last year - several hours after England had played a one-day international against the West Indies in the city.
The court was told on Monday that Stokes lost his self-control and knocked two men unconscious in a street fight last Septembe.
Stokes, acting in "revenge, retaliation or punishment", was involved in a "sustained episode of significant violence", prosecutor Nicholas Corsellis told a jury at Bristol Crown Court in southwest England.
The trial is expected to last between five and seven days in courtroom one.
Stokes missed the Ashes series against Australia after being suspended from playing for England. Without him, England lost the series 4-0. He will miss England's second test against India due to the trial.
But could Stokes face a lengthy prison sentence as well?
The charge he faces states that their "conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety".
A 27-year-old man allegedly suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident, at which fellow England cricketer Alex Hales was also present.
What is affray?
The legal definition of the term affray says: A fight between two or more persons in a public place so as to cause terror to the public.
People often get charged with affray where they are involved in a fight or brawl in a public place. It is a common law offence and is triable by a judge and jury.
What sentence does affray carry in UK courts?
The maximum penalty for the offence is three years in prison. The defendant can also be fined a unlimited amount.
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