Another member of the So Solid Crew is in trouble, and this time it's Romeo, real name Marvin Dawkins, who has appeared in court this week on charges of assault. Dawkins is accused, along with friend Thomas Engola, of attacking a fellow clubber, Ejay Armstrong, after leaving the Cirque in Leicester Square in Aug 2004. Both deny wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution, Sarah Forshaw, said the pair "attacked Mr Armstrong in a most vicious way" and described how some of Romeo's group of friends got in to an argument with Armstrong, whose car had been blocked in by a car belonging to one of Romeo's aforesaid friends. In the ensuing tension it's alleged that Dawkins and Engola set upon Armstrong and slashed him with a knife, cutting across his jawline and chin. Romeo's car was stopped shortly after the incident and the rapper himself was found to be covered in Armstrong's blood, and a search of the vehicle revealed a bloodied flick knife.
It's the second time this has come to court; the case fell apart back in June when a jury failed to reach a verdict, the defence then claiming that it was a case of self-defence, because one of Armstrong's group was in possession of a pair of scissors, which he attempted to use during the course of the fracas.