Tweedy apologises to fans - but not to victim
Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy apologised to fans in her first interviews since being found guilty of assaulting a nightclub toilet attendant, it emerged today.
In interviews with GMTV, BBC Radio Five Live and the Sun, Tweedy, who received a £3,000 (€4,400) fine and 120 hours’ community service after the two week trial at Kingston Crown Court, said she was also apologising to her family and the other members of the band.
The only person the pop star failed to apologise to was the victim of her assault, Sophie Amogbokpa.
Mrs Amogbokpa, 39, received hospital treatment for an injury to her eye and was unable to return to work at the Drink nightclub in Guildford for six weeks after the attack.
She has now launched a civil action against the singer backed by Imran Khan, the solicitor who acted for the parents of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Mr Khan told The Guardian newspaper Mrs Amogbokpa was seeking an apology and substantial damages.
Mrs Amogbokpa said when she heard what Tweedy had told the media it was as if she was being assaulted again.
She will now try to overturn the not guilty verdict on the charge of racially aggravated assault and seek aggravated damages in the civil courts on the basis that the assault was racially motivated.
During the two week trial the court heard that Tweedy had called Mrs Amogbokpa a “f****** black bitch”. However the jury believed witnesses who said she had not used racist language.
Mrs Amogbokpa told The Guardian: “She was able to apologise to her fans and her family and other people but not to me, the victim, who she caused so much stress and pain.”
At the heart of the court case was a disagreement over whether the singer had grabbed sweets which were on display in the toilets.
During the trial Tweedy admitted she punched Mrs Amogbokpa but claimed the toilet attendant had hit her first.
