9:39am Thursday 26th July 2007
A MAN has been cleared of trying to intimidate a potential court witness by attacking both him and his car with a baseball bat.
Scott Keane, aged 27, was found not guilty after a two-day trial at Swansea Crown Court.
The jury had heard Barry Palmer, also of Pembroke Dock, had given a statement to police who were investigating a complaint that Mr Keane had damaged property belonging to his former partner Fiona Woodward.
Mr Palmer said that late on March 5 he was sitting in his car outside a kebab shop in Meyrick Street chatting to his girlfriend on a mobile phone when he was suddenly approached by Mr Keane and another man.
Kevin Riordan, prosecuting, alleged that Mr Keane used the bat to smash the window of the driver's side door and then struck Mr Palmer several times. Then he walked around to the passenger door and smashed another window.
"Crucially, it was what was said," added Mr Riordan. "Scott Keane indicated he knew full well that Barry Palmer was a potential witness against him and he was warning him off. It was not a random assault. It was targeting. He wanted to frighten him off."
Mr Riordan said Mr Palmer had not been seriously injured. He added the original criminal damage allegation was not proceeded with "but that wasn't the point".
Mr Keane, of Stranaer Street, said he had not seen Mr Palmer since their schooldays and on March 5 he was unaware he had made a statement.
He agreed he had been in Meyrick Street late on March 5 but had not seen Mr Palmer, let alone attacked him.
He said he had not seen Mr Palmer for so long he doubted he would even recognise him.
He said he had no motive to attack Mr Palmer because he had no idea he was claiming to have been a witness to the alleged incident of criminal damage.
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