Alex Hales could've injured the man Ben Stokes punched, court told

Ben Stokes is accused of knocking Ryan Ali to the floor, with fellow cricketer Alex Hales then apparently kicking his head and stamping on him as he lay on the ground

Alex Hales may have caused injuries to a man who was later knocked unconscious by England teammate Ben Stokes, a court has heard. Stokes, 27, has insisted he was acting in self-defence when he hit Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 27, after they had abused two gay men near a nightclub in Bristol.

Bristol Crown Court heard that the precise start to the violence is unknown but Ali, who is on trial alongside Stokes accused of affray, swung a beer bottle at Hales. Ali then delivered a glancing blow to the shoulder of Kai Barry, a gay man who was out with friend William O'Connor in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol in the early hours of September 25 last year.

Stokes is accused of knocking Ali to the floor, with fellow cricketer Hales then apparently kicking his head and stamping on him as he lay on the ground.

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