Not guilty verdict in blondes fight case

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

MEOW: Victoria Clapham, left, says she needed stitches after being hit with a champagne flute by Bridget Masters.

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A woman has been found not guilty of wounding with intent, after two blondes clashed in the toilet of a Wellington bar over a dress.

The pair got into a fight in the Temperance Bar in Blair St on November 28 last year.

The court was told Bridget Masters, 20, smashed a champagne flute over the head of Victoria Clapham, 22, during an argument over a dress, causing cuts to her chest.

Ms Masters had denied injuring Ms Clapham with intent to wound her.

Her lawyer Mike Antonovic told a jury at Wellington District Court there was no intention to hurt Ms Clapham, and Ms Masters was defending herself when she threw up her hands.

The jury returned a not guilty verdict this afternoon.

The crown alleged Ms Masters was upset that Ms Clapham was wearing a dress given to her by an ex boyfriend, Matthew Vibert.

Acting out of anger, Ms Masters smashed a champagne flute over the head of Ms Clapham, the crown said.

The jury yesterday heard from Mr Vibert, 25, via videolink from Australia, where he is now living.

He admitted he had known his former girlfriend was likely to be at the bar, covering the dance festival for Snapstar, an online entertainment programme.

Mr Vibert said he had bought the dress for Masters when he was in America.

She had not taken it when they broke up soon after.

- © Fairfax NZ News