Ferry trial hit by more delays (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Ferry trial hit by more delays

4:20pm Tuesday 16th September 2008 in News By Standard reporter

THE trial of rock star Bryan Ferry's son Otis on robbery and assault charges has been hit by more legal delays today.

Jurors have been sent away until 12.30pm when, it is hoped, prosecutor Kerry Barker will begin outlining the Crown's case against the 25-year-old huntsman and countryside campaigner.

So far the jury has heard nothing except the charges against Mr Ferry, from Cross Hands, Easton Mascot, Shropshire.

In his full name of Charles Frederick Otis Ferry he has denied robbing Hunt monitor Helen Ghalmi and assaulting her during a meeting of the Heythrop Hunt at Lower Swell, near Stow-on-the-Wold, November 21 last year.

Yesterday and this morning Judge Martin Picton has been dealing with legal submissions from Mr Barker and defence counsel Philip Lucas.

Mr Ferry has denied robbing Helen Ghalmi of a Samsung video camera belonging to Susan Grima and a set of keys in the incident last year. He has also denied common assault on Helen Ghalmi by striking her on the same date.

The alleged offences happened during a meeting of the Heythrop Hunt in which Mr Ferry was allegedly taking part.