Pair deny racist attack

TWO cousins have denied committing a racist attack on a black man outside an Ipswich nightclub.

Lulzim Deda and Bujar Gashi deny attacking Kevin Morrison in an unprovoked attack, South East Suffolk Magistrates heard.

Mr Morrison, 38, told police he left Chicago Rock Café and was walking down Northgate Street when two men shouted abuse at him.

He said one of the men shouted racial abuse then repeatedly punched and kicked him while the other man ran over and karate kicked him in the side and kicked him in the head. He said it was an unprovoked attack.

Deda, 28 said Gashi's wife had "grabbed his shoulder" while he queued for his jacket at Chicago's on November 2. "She said my cousin was in trouble" Deda told police through a Kosovan interpreter.

He said he followed her outside but could not see his cousin (Gashi) through the crowds of shouting people and police.

Deda said he was then arrested and handcuffed by police. Deda, of St Francis Tower, Ipswich, denies assaulting Mr Morrison causing him actual bodily harm.

Gashi, 22, of London Road South, Lowestoft, told police he had been celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife and family at Chicago's. He said he retrieved his wife's coat before leaving the nightclub and she had complained about a black man "touching her up".

"I told him to go away and he said 'what's it got to do with you?' I said it had everything to do with me she's my wife, he then punched me in the mouth," said Gashi. "I pushed him on the shoulder so he would not punch me again."

Gashi said the police intervened while he and Mr Morrison argued in Northgate Street. Gashi said: "He was laughing at me, I tried to kick or punch him, we grabbed each other and were on the floor."

Gashi denied that he punched Mr Morrison while he was on the floor. He also denied that he shouted racial abuse at Mr Morrison or that he repeatedly kicked and punched him. Gashi denied racially aggravated assault.

The trial continues.