Henry Nowak: Gosport man Matt Styler to face trial after alleged involvement in Southampton disorder
A Gosport man arrested during a riot in Southampton will go on trial later this year
A trial date has been set for a 50-year-old man accused of assaulting a police officer during disorder in Southampton following the death of Henry Nowak.
Matt Styler, of Orange Grove, Gosport, had pleaded not guilty to the charge during a preliminary hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court last week.
Judge William Mousley KC, sitting at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, adjourned the case for a further plea and trial preparation hearing on June 26 with a trial date set for November 2, expected to last three days.
The previous hearing was told that the veteran soldier, who served with the Parachute Regiment, was accused of kicking a police sergeant during the Portswood disorder on June 2.
The court heard that the defendant was not present for the hearing after he declined to attend from prison because of “confusion” over a change of date for the hearing.
The judge told the court: “I will provisionally set the trial date for November 2 to last three days. I will adjourn the plea and trial preparation hearing for June 26.”