Shepherd's Bush Woman Cleared of Assault after Film Event Row
Akua Gyamfi had claimed she hadn't been paid for hosting Windrush celebration
Akua Gyamfi . Picture: YouTube
April 18, 2023
A 46-year-old woman from Shepherd’s Bush has been cleared of assault having been accused of swinging a punch at a Windrush Day celebration
Akua Gyamfi, who is the founder of the British Blacklist, an organisation which promotes British Black talent in the arts, had helped organise a reception on 22 June last year.
A contact that she had made through the British Film Institute, media executive Alisha Hall, had said that she would be willing to fund a brunch event to celebrate black creative talent during the 2021 London Film Festival. Among those in attendance at the event included Small Axe star Malachi Kirby along with writer Afua Hirsch and actor Femi Oyeniran.
However, Ms Gyamfi says that, although a £35,000 donation was promised, all the funds were not forthcoming, and she was forced to meet much of the cost of the event at the NoMad Hotel from her own pocket.
She said during her trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court that the expense had left her deep in debt and facing potential financial ruin.
Ms Hall claims that she had authorised the money to be paid for the event.
Having previously emailed her demanding payment, Ms Gyamfi confronted Ms Hall as she was leaving the Film and TV Charity headquarters in Soho with her mother on 22 June last year. According to her testimony, Ms Hall ignored her and she continued to chase her along the road. The altercation was captured on CCTV.
She was later accused of attempting to punch Ms Hall with a closed fist. Although she admitted to being very angry, she denied that she had aimed a punch and that hitting someone was not in her character.
After hearing the evidence presented at a two-day trial that ended on 14 April, she was found not guilty of common assault.
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