Singer Sinitta had told "barefaced lies" and suggested that former footballer Ashley Ward had cheated on his wife when she was allegedly attacked by a reality TV star at a restaurant, a court has been told.
Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Dawn Ward, 43, is accused of attacking the So Macho singer and acquaintance - whose full name is Sinitta Malone - during a heated talk aimed at clearing the air between them, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.
Dawn Ward. Photo: PA
Businesswoman Claire Johnson, who is also known as Caudwell, attended the April 2015 champagne lunch meeting at a central London restaurant which had been arranged by Sinitta.
She later told police that Sinitta had been "accusatorial, aggressive", and had been "critical" of Ward, "questioning her marriage and the fidelity of her husband".
Ward, who is married to the former footballer, denies one count of common assault.
Ms Johnson, who is one of the people behind the Caudwell Children charity, told the court that things became heated as the group tried to clear up their bad blood.
No further details about the earlier controversy which had led to this meeting was given.
Sinitta. Photo: PA
Noting "they were both getting upset with each other", Ms Johnson said: "Straight away Sinitta lied and Dawn said 'I have got nowhere to go with this'.
"She basically accused Dawn of starting this conversation, this argument. Dawn said 'it was me it was you'. Sinitta started gesticulating, pointing and saying 'you are a liar' and getting angry and swearing."
Ms Johnson said they had spent three hours on a train to get to the meeting in the hope of a fresh start and then "she (Sinitta) barefaced lied, it upset her (Ward)".
Ward then said "this champagne might as well go all over you" but she did not throw the drink, the court was told.
Of Ward's alleged behaviour, Ms Johnson was asked: "Did you see her push her (Sinitta) in the chest? Did you see her punch her on the right cheek?"
Ms Johnson replied "no".
She also agreed that Ward is an "animated" woman who might touch someone to get their attention.
Sinitta has previously told the court that she was ''shocked'' and "humiliated" after allegedly being shoved and having a napkin thrown at her at the Salmontini restaurant.
She later told police "my cheek was sore and bruised".
Ward denies allegations that she punched Sinitta or threatened to glass her.
She later told police that she may have thrown her e-cigarette in a napkin but that it did not make contact. She also said she may have prodded Sinitta to get her attention but that all of this was a trivial incident.
On whether the restaurant could have been more helpful and if there was more footage available of the scene inside the venue, Detective Sergeant Kevin Harwin told the court: "My personal feeling is that they did not want the media interest."
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