Sword Trial Stopped

Tony Allen, of Preston Road, denies racially aggravated assault, affray, and possessing an offensive weapon.

Allen was alleged to have made racist remarks and struck Indreti "Nino" Martinez with a dog lead outside his flat in Bexhill in May, 2004.

It was also claimed he waved the rapier and stabbed it at Martinez's friend Kutim Daci although it did not hit him in an argument over an alleged unpaid debt.

The trial was stopped as the jury were set to retire to consider their verdict. There is due to be a retrial on a date yet to be set