Girlfriend pleaded for bouncer to let boyfriend go (From Daily Echo)

John Jones' girlfriend pleaded for bouncer at Kaos in Southampton to let him go

10:19am Thursday 11th June 2009 in Crime By John Hoskins, Court Reporter

THE girlfriend of a student paralysed from the neck down after he was restrained by a doorman at a Southampton nightclub told jurors she did not know why he had been singled out.

Aslihan Konan burst into tears as she stepped into the witness box to give evidence at the city crown court but then composed herself before taking the Islamic oath.

She said John Jones had drunk three cans of cider before they went to a friend’s house where he drank another and then went on to KAOS nightclub in St Mary’s Road where he had two vodkas and cokes.

She told him she wanted to spend some time with her friends and that did not cause a problem. He had a group of mates there but he later told her he was bored and wanted to go home.

“He seemed a bit tired. He wanted to leave but I didn’t. It didn’t put him in a bad mood. I tried to persuade him to stay.”

Miss Konan described how they went upstairs to find a bit of quiet because the dance floor was crowded and she started crying because they were both upset.

“I decided to go to the toilet. John followed me, he was calling my name. He grabbed my upper arm to turn me around. It wasn’t an aggressive grab. I had my back to the toilet door.

"The next thing I knew was the bouncer coming behind John, putting his arms underneath his arms. He pulled John’s arms back and started taking him towards the front door. I couldn’t understand why he was being taken hold of and that’s why I said ‘Let go of John’.

“He wasn’t being physical towards me and didn’t appear angry with me. There was no problem between us. He put his hands behind his neck.

"John was wriggling trying to get free. I shouted at him to let him go but it had no affect.”

Miss Konan said she was upset and turned away, and when she looked round, she saw him lying on the ground by a red pillar with his head to one side. He wasn't moving and was unresponsive to anything she said.

Then she then accompanied him by ambulance to the General Hospital. Miss Konan and Mr Jones were dressed as punk rockers when they went to KAOS in February of last year with about 15-20 others to celebrate a birthday.

The prosecution alleges doorman Andrew Lee came up behind Mr Jones, put him in a full nelson hold and dragged him away to eject him from the club. Seconds later the pair fell and Mr Jones was badly injured.

Barrister William Mousley said Lee’s actions were “unnecessary and unreasonable”.

Mr Mousley told the court Mr Jones would not be giving evidence because he could not give a reliable account of what had happened.

Lee, 31, of Alcantara Crescent, Southampton, denies causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm.

Proceeding