Lady Leshurr: Video does not show real attack, court told

Lady Leshurr denies two counts of assault

A video allegedly showing rapper Lady Leshurr attacking her ex-girlfriend's lover before biting her does not show the real incident, a jury has heard.

The 35-year-old, whose real name is Melesha O'Garro, is accused of assaulting Chante Boyea in the early hours of 22 October last year.

It is alleged the former Dancing On Ice contestant, from Kingshurst, Solihull, bit Ms Boyea's hand so hard she suffered nerve damage.

She denies two counts of assault.

Ms O'Garro and her co-defendant Sherelle Smith, from Yardley, Birmingham, allegedly also attacked the rapper's former partner Sidnee Hussein outside her home in Walthamstow, north-east London, after she tried to help Ms Boyea.

Ms Smith also denies assault.

The defendants claim they were attacked first and security officer Ms Boyea used her Belgian Malinois dog as a "weapon" against Ms O'Garro.

The rapper told Southwark Crown Court she was on the ground and was stamped on, and Ms Boyea was directing her dog to attack her.

Ms O'Garro told the jury bruising on her left arm was caused by "Chante stamping", adding that injuries to the left side of her body were all caused by a dog.

Jurors previously saw a Snapchat video recorded by Ms Boyea, appearing to show her holding back Ms O'Garro as the rapper appeared to lunge at her.

In the clip Ms O'Garro can be seen with her mouth open as Ms Boyea screams "help" repeatedly.

Ms O'Garro told the court she believed the video was taken after the altercation, because she is not wearing one of her trademark wigs which she uses "95% of the time".

"Looking at the video, I'm just trying to get her off," she said.

'Clearly defending myself'

"She [Ms Boyea] said that I'm flailing my arms around. None of it connected. I am trying to get them off and there is a dog around.

"While I was on the floor she was hitting me. She was saying 'get her' and that is where the dog was going.

"My main concern was keeping the dog away from my face. I did not care that she was hitting me. It was the dog at the time. I just wanted to get up and get away."

Under cross-examination, Ms O'Garro denied she was having to be restrained because she had become angry.

She continued: "I'm clearly defending myself. If you put that online everyone would think I'm attacking her but if you look there's still a dog attacking me."

Ms O'Garro also denied trying to headbutt or bite Ms Hussein and denied biting or trying to bite Ms Boyea.

The artist was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome during a hospital appointment after the incident, but Ms O'Garro denied this was caused by her delivering a headbutt.

Asked by the prosecution why Ms Boyea was shouting for help in the video, the rapper replied: "So that she has evidence that she is being attacked. She made this Snapchat evidence before she called the police."

The trial continues.

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