Men deny racist remarks to Bristol shop workers
Bristol Crown Court has been told that following an incident at Birchwood Stores, St Anne's, Stephen Monelle and a 17-year-old youth were barred.
It is claimed that despite the bar, they entered the store with Ashley Stockham in March, called two Sri Lankan Tamil shop assistants "Paki slaves" and attacked them.
Monelle, 43, of Chelmsford Walk, St Anne's, Stockham, 18, of Valentine Close, Whitchurch and the youth deny violent disorder, two racially aggravated assaults and racially aggravated destruction of property.
Stockham and the youth have both admitted affray and simple assault, and the youth has also admitted two counts of battery and damaging property.
Monelle told the jury that on the day in question he watched the Liverpool versus Manchester United game on TV with his co-accused and then went to the shop alone to buy wine and cigarettes for the evening. He denied that he had been banned from the shop.
Monelle said Stockham and the youth caught him up and went too, but at the shop he was told he was a bad man and his money was no good.
"I didn't call them Paki or Paki slaves," he told the court. "I uttered no remarks like that whatsoever."
Monelle explained how one of the shop assistants went to get a metal bar and a squabble ensued in which he was cut to the forehead, before being bashed on his shoulder.
He said he had acted as a peacemaker in the fracas, and had tried to pull Stockham away from the counter.
Stockham told the court he had no previous convictions for violence and he was contesting the racially aggravated assaults because he didn't utter racial abuse.
The bricklayer's labourer said he stupidly "jumped in" after the youth started trouble, because he didn't want the lad to be hit.
He said: "I didn't walk out, because I was stupid. I got hit with a bottle in the face, and I was bleeding. My injury was horrible but it was my own fault."
The youth was not called to give evidence.
Sarah Regan, prosecuting, told the court that on the day in question the shop was staffed by Sri Lankan Tamils Sasiyanthan Sriwickramarajasingham and Uthaykumar Subramaniam.
The jury was shown CCTV footage of Monelle and Stockham entering the shop about 4.45pm, with the youth staying at the door.
Miss Regan said: "From the beginning it is Mr Monelle who is in charge and it is Mr Monelle who is the aggressor."
Miss Regan said Monelle was seen pointing his finger aggressively towards Mr Sasiyanthan, saying things to the effect of: "I was born right here in Bristol. You've got to serve me, Paki slave."
The court heard Mr Uthaykumar tried to explain that, due to problems in the past, staff had a right not to serve people.
After some gesturing and shouting, Miss Regan said, the youth lunged and punched Mr Uthaykumar and Stockham joined in the attack, followed by Monelle.
Miss Regan said Mr Uthaykumar picked up a metal rod and Mr Sasiyanthan grabbed a bottle as the assault was unleashed.
When Monelle and Stockham left the premises, the youth started to throw things about, including the till, which he hurled towards Mr Sasiyanthan.
The jury heard Mr Sasiyanthan suffered pain to his head, nose, left knee and back as well as a cut chin.
His colleague had minor injuries including a swollen forehead and cut mouth.
The case continues at Bristol Crown Court.
