Raheem Sterling found NOT GUILTY of assaulting girlfriend.

The case against the 18-year-old collapsed midway through a trial after the prosecution objected to the evidence of his partner Shana Halliday

 Raheem Sterling was yesterday a free man after he was dramatically cleared of assaulting his model girlfriend.
The case against the 18-year-old collapsed midway through a trial after the prosecution objected to the evidence of his partner Shana Halliday, who the winger was accused of attacking during a car journey from Manchester to Merseyside.
Speaking from behind a screen at Liverpool Magistrates Court, the 19-year-old ex-Hollister model described their bust-up as they returned home from a birthday meal in Manchester.
Almost inaudible at times, and her testimony punctuated by long silences, Ms Halliday said: “We just had a heated argument because I seen a text on his phone and I asked who it was.
“After that we just kept arguing, there was pushing and shoving.
“It was both of us. He was pushing me on my arms and back.
“He asked me to get out. The car was moving and I said, ‘I can’t get out.’
“We kept arguing between Warrington and Liverpool. We were name-calling.”

Prosecutor Ms Drysdale, who had described Sterling as ‘the aggressor’, earlier told the court: “It’s the Crown’s case that there was an argument between the two in the restaurant where they had gone to have a meal and they continued in the car journey home.
“It’s the Crown’s case that the defendant assaulted Miss Halliday in the vehicle.”
Sterling, who denied the attack on August 8, was arrested in the Page Moss district of Merseyside after Ms Halliday called the police.
But yesterday’s trial took a twist when prosecutor Sara Drysdale, clearly unhappy with Ms Halliday’s version of events, applied to magistrates to make the model a ‘hostile witness’ to allow a more direct form of questioning to be taken against her.
That bid, described by Sterling’s barrister Stuart Driver QC as ‘exceptional, draconian and straw-clutching’ was refused by chairman of the bench Anthony Leo.
Moments later, Ms Drysdale told the court: “In light of that, there’s no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”
Mr Leo told Sterling: “We formally find you not guilty in this case.”

The winger, dressed in a dark navy suit, walked from court with advisors from Liverpool Football Club.
The case against Sterling had originally alleged the row began in the restaurant where they were celebrating Ms Halliday’s birthday, and continued as they drove back home.
The court heard the couple pulled into a service station on the M62 motorway during the stormy trip where it was alleged an assault took place and a further attack in Huyton, Merseyside, where police were called.
Sterling, from Birkdale, Merseyside, was arrested after Ms Halliday called officers and spent a night in the cells in Liverpool before his first appearance in court.
The teen is a former sales assistant at clothing store Hollister and was crowned the winner of England’s Top Model of the World pageant in March.
After the case, Sterling left without making any comment and was driven off in a van waiting for him outside the magistrates court.
A Liverpool Football Cub spokesman said: “This is a private natter for Raheem and as such we will not be making any further comment.”