Lauren Proverbs, 21, was accused of assaulting lesbian Gina
Landon outside a Borehamwood takeaway in Hertfordshire, earlier
this year.
During the trial, she admitted throwing a punch a Landon, who was
out with her female partner, but claims she was acting in
self-defense.
She says the pair were on the precipice of a public fight and was
acting to protect herself.
According to The Telegraph, the jury heard that heated words were
exchanged before the situation became violent.
During the early hours of 8 January, Proverbs turned to Landon
and her partner to demanded to know "what they were saying about
her and her friend."
Landon told the jury: "My response was, 'If you don't mind, I am
talking to my girlfriend'." She went on: "She [Miss Proverbs]
called me a ------- dyke and a ------- lesbian."
Landon said Proverbs also hurled abuse at her girlfriend, calling
her "------- Polish" and saying she was going to "have her".
Landon said Proverbs punched her in the face, causing her to
fall and bleed from the mouth.
"I was slightly delirious at the time but I remember her picking
up her foot and stamping down really hard on my ribs," Landon
said.
But, as part of her unusual defense, Proverbs claimed she could
not have committed a homophobic hate crime because she has a
rainbow-coloured flower tattoed on her body.
She then produced a photograph of the design - which is located
on her buttocks - for the attention of the jury.
She claims it was done several years ago while holidaying in
Spain with her then-lesbian partner.
The case - which is a rare example of one lesbian accusing
another of a hate crime - seemed to cause a dilemma for the jury.
At the end of the trial on 4 August, they were unable to reach a
verdict on a charge of actual bodily harm.
Prosecutor Alison Ginn, after consulting with Landon, told Judge
Stephen Farrell that she would not seek a retrial.
Instead, they recorded a not guilty verdict.
