Kane Robinson was accused of attacking a couple in London’s Shoreditch House on September 16 last year
Mobo award-winning rapper and actor Kano has had assault charges against him dropped after the complainants failed to attend court, with one of them appearing to go on a climbing holiday.
The 32-year-old, real name Kane Robinson, was accused of attacking a couple in London’s Shoreditch House on September 16 last year.
But after Suzzan Atala and Henry Kinman failed to turn up for the trial at Wood Green Crown Court, the case against the Top Boy star was dismissed on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Roger Smart told the court that Ms Atala had not been heard from since February this year, while Mr Kinman had not responded to any correspondence since emailing officers on August 17 stating that he had a family emergency in the south of France.
But overnight investigations by defence lawyers revealed that from September 1, this year, Mr Kinman had posted pictures on social media of himself mountain climbing in Grenoble.
Mr Smart said: ‘In short, any concern that this was a gentleman who was apparently engaged in focusing on his sister’s welfare over and above other activities, had by his own posts on Twitter been eradicated.’
Jeremy Dein QC, representing Robinson, added: ‘The scenario appears that whilst Mr Kinman has been dangling from a rope and enjoying a scenic view in the south of France, having told the police he was the victim of a family emergency, Mr Robinson has been overcome with anxiety at the prospect of this trial and the devastation of his career.’
He asked the judge for a full investigation into the circumstances of the case, accusing Mr Kinman of ‘toying with the criminal justice process’.
On Tuesday Mr Dein submitted that any delay in proceedings could impact on Robinson’s plans to record a new album and film an upcoming series of Top Boy in the coming months.
Judge Gregory Perrins said everyone’s time had been wasted, adding: ‘From the information put before me, he has on the face of it deliberately misled the prosecution.
‘It appears to be the case that Mr Kinman had no intention to attend.’
Robinson, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, had faced one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one count of unlawful wounding and one count of affray
Addressing the dock, he added: ‘I have formally directed not guilty verdicts in the case of both of you.
‘You are now both formally acquitted and leave this court without a stain on your character.’
Mr Perrins also said that Mr Kinman’s conduct needed to be properly looked into.
Robinson, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, had faced one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one count of unlawful wounding and one count of affray.
The charges against Robinson’s 30-year-old co-defendant Chris Brown of Hackney, east London, were also dropped.
He had faced one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.