Fielder-civil's Assault Victim Cleared In Bribery Plot

The London pub landlord accused of teaming up with AMY WINEHOUSE's husband BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL to pervert the course of justice has been cleared of the charge.

Fielder-Civil is accused of causing grievous bodily harm to pub owner James King in an incident in June 2006. In a bizarre twist, the 26-year-old was then charged with teaming up with King to try to fix the outcome of that trial, by offering him a $400,000 (GBP200,000) bribe.

Fielder-Civil - who is on remand at the capital's Pentonville Prison - initially denied the charges, but entered a guilty plea to both counts at the start of his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London earlier this month (Jun08).

King, 36, faced one count of perverting the course of justice - but was acquitted of taking the cash bribe when the jury delivered their first verdict on Wednesday (25Jun08).

Fielder-Civil's co-defendant Michael Brown, 25 has pleaded guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm, while Brown, Anthony Kelly, 25, and James Kennedy, 19, have all pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Winehouse's spouse, who faces up to five years behind bars for the allegations, and his remaining co-defendants are awaiting the jury's verdict and will be sentenced in due course.