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| Not Guilty: Lisa Maffia |
So Solid Crew star Lisa Maffia has been cleared today of attacking her petite hair stylist with the help of a mystery female accomplice during a violent row over hot comb straighteners.
The ’21 Seconds’ hitmaker was accused of bursting into the south London salon, demanding the return of the hair straighteners, which she had supplied on a sale-or-return basis.
Croydon Magistrates court heard Maffia, 41, of Kent House Road, Beckenham was involved in an aggressive “joint enterprise” assault on four-foot eleven inches tall, five and a half stone Rebekah Groves.
Following an all-day trial she was found not guilty of assault.
She turned up at Bekah Aurora in Tulse Hill at 6.45pm on May 9, looking for the return of the stock, which was worth no more than £90.
Prosecutor Mr James Tucker told the trial Ms Groves - a wig and weave specialist - was with client and friend Melissa Greaves in the locked salon when Maffia’s accomplice gained entry.
“Rebekah Groves says the two effectively burst in and the two of them were becoming aggressive about the return of these hot combs.
“Rebekah Groves got on the phone and said she was going to call the police and was alarmed that the defendant was becoming aggressive, saying she wanted the hot combs or the money for them.
“She says she was backed into the corner of the shop,” added Mr Tucker, explaining the hair stylist announced she was calling the police.
“It seems the phone was grabbed and taken off Rebekah Groves in that procedure and she received scratches to her arms and says she was hit a number of times.
“She pulled her ponytails and punched or kicked her twice in the face and as a result she suffered a cut to the nose.”
The stylist was able to record two short clips on her phone, which the prosecution plan to play to the court.
“Lisa Maffia is responsible not only for the injuries she inflicted on Rebekah Groves, but those by the other woman in a joint enterprise.”  |
| Police Escort: Rebekah Groves |
Maffia was alter questioned by police and after giving a prepared statement gave a “no comment” interview. “She denied the assault,” said Mr Tucker.
Ms Groves, giving evidence from behind a screen, told the trial Maffia was a client she agreed to sell stock for, taking £5 for every hot comb sale.
Maffia sent several texts messages, demanding their return, writing in one: “I’m ready to launch.”
She told the magistrates the accomplice, described as a tall black woman in her forties, posed as a potential customer, asking questions about wigs and was allowed in.
“If Lisa had come I wouldn’t have answered the door, but a couple of seconds later Lisa’s barged in through the door too.”
Describing Maffia as “frustrated” and “angry” she said the musician demanded: “Where’s my stuff?”
“They were not taking no for an answer and they were both asking for the stuff.”
The stylist was in the middle of sowing hair extensions to her friend’s head. “They started to get closer and closer to me and the needle was taken out of my hand.
“I was very scared. I felt like I was being grabbed.”
However, the singer gave a conflicting account to the court, claiming the hairdresser immediately became irate and "verbally aggressive" towards her when she entered.
"She was acting like something I'd never seen. I could see she was angry and there was a lot going on. I just wanted to get out.
"She was throwing things.....she had a hot comb that she was doing the lady's hair with and charged at me."
Maffia had five top twenty hits and a platinum-selling album with So Solid Crew and released two top ten singles as a solo artist and an award-winning album.
She starred in Channel 4 reality show The Games in 2004 and set up her own record label - Maffia Recordz.
Maffia rejoined So Solid Crew in January, 2010 with the single Since You Went Away.
