4 July 2022 updated 4 July 2022
Alex Belfield appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today at the start of his trial, following previous pre-trial hearings.
The jury was sworn in. The indictment was read out. Mr Belfield was charged with eight counts of stalking, to which he had pleaded not guilty.
The Judge for the trial is The Honourable Mr Justice Saini. The trial is estimated to take between four and six weeks.
John McGuiness QC is leading the prosecution for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Belfield is representing himself. Mr Aubrey QC has been appointed by the court to cross examine prosecution witnesses.
Tomorrow, the jury will receive a bundle that includes the indictment with the counts.
Mr McGuiness is due to open the case tomorrow, where he will outline in broad terms what the case is about.
Mr Belfield had requested a judgement to withold his address. Nottingham Post and its associated website NottinghamshireLive had written against this, citing common journalistic practice, as well as case law. The judge directed communication from the court that there is no order preventing publication of [Mr Belfield's] address. In their report, NottinghamshireLive duly published Mr Belfield's street address, as is common journalistic practice.