Dizzee Rascal’s ex-fiancee has said she left the rapper because of “domestic abuse”, a court has heard.
The rapper, whose real name is Dylan Kwabena Mills, denies assaulting Cassandra Jones at a residential property in Streatham, south London, on 8 June last year, as they argued about their children after their break-up.
Mills, who attended the trial at Wimbledon magistrates court on Friday, had two children with Jones before they split up in February 2021.
Helena Duong, the prosecutor, said the alleged assault occurred in “the context of a domestic dispute” about child contact during a “fairly chaotic scene” when he dropped off their daughter at the property.
The court heard that during the incident, Mills allegedly barged his way into the house carrying their son, started “shouting and screaming”, “put his forehead against hers and pushed her around the room” and “pushed her to the ground”.
The prosecution said that during the incident, Mills “became very angry and started acting erratically, banging his head three times on the fridge with his son in his arms”.
But the defence, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC, questioned “inconsistencies” in several witness statements Jones had made about the incident.
She asked the court to throw out the case because of “embellishments, exaggerations, inconsistencies and lies” in Jones’ evidence. “Ms Jones was prepared to say absolutely anything about the altercation, which was verbal, we say,” she said.
Bennett-Jenkins argued that Jones had “accepted” she previously lied about how he had assaulted her. While questioning Jones, the lawyer asked why she wrote in her first police statement that Mills had “thrown her to the ground” instead of “pushed” or “barged” – as was now being used.
Jones, who became increasingly upset throughout the cross-examination, said: “I was in shock about what had happened and I was still caring for both our babies. I’m sorry I used the wrong word but what happened happened and all I can do is speak my truth.”
Bennett-Jenkins also questioned the account of Jones’ mother Dawn Kirk, who was present in the house during the argument. She said her daughter yelled that Mills “just pushed me” despite writing in her first statement that she screamed “he just dragged me across the floor” followed by Mills protesting “no I didn’t”.
In his first police statement read out in court, Mills denied the allegations and accused his ex-fiancee of assaulting him.
He said: “I did not push Cassandra to the floor. I did not push her forehead with my forehead. In fact, she assaulted me by pushing me and scratching my arm.”
Meanwhile, the prosecution rejected Bennett-Jenkins’ argument that Jones was not a “credible” witness.
District Judge Polly Gledhill then denied the defence’s request to toss out proceedings, saying: “At the moment I am satisfied that there is a case to be answered.”
Mills, of Sevenoaks in Kent, who was charged on 2 August last year, denies assault by beating.
He released his debut album, Boy in da Corner, aged 18 in 2003 and scored a string of No 1s, including Bonkers, and Dance wiv Me, on 2009’s Tongue n’ Cheek. He also performed at the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
The trial continues.
