Abertillery man faces 2026 trial after denying rape charge
Matthew Buffin, aged 40, of Bryn Terrace, Brynithel, Abertillery denied the charge which the prosecution claims took place on New Year's Day in 2024.
The defendant's trial date was set for September 21 next year during a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
Buffin was represented by John Ryan and the prosecution by Roger Griffiths.
He was granted conditional bail by Judge Vanessa Francis.
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South Wales Argus
16 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Abertillery man faces 2026 trial after denying rape charge
Matthew Buffin, aged 40, of Bryn Terrace, Brynithel, Abertillery denied the charge which the prosecution claims took place on New Year's Day in 2024. The defendant's trial date was set for September 21 next year during a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court. Buffin was represented by John Ryan and the prosecution by Roger Griffiths. He was granted conditional bail by Judge Vanessa Francis.
NBC News
4 days ago
- NBC News
NBA star James Harden accused of negligence in sexual assault lawsuit against his nephew
LA Clippers star player James Harden has been accused of negligence in a lawsuit that claims a woman was raped by his nephew while she was unconscious after a New Year's Eve party at his Texas house last year. Harden's nephew, Justice Armani Blackburn, is accused of sexual assault against Marisa Watley, 40, in a civil complaint filed in Texas on Monday by law firm Wigdor and co-counsel Ellwanger Henderson. The lawsuit alleges that security guards hired by Harden could have prevented the alleged rape and that he is "vicariously liable for the actions of his guards and their corporate employer." It names Harden, Blackburn, and an unknown number of unidentified security guards as defendants, listed as 'security guards 1-10,' and their unidentified employer. Watley is seeking more than $100,000 in damages and wants a jury trial. Representatives for both Harden and Blackburn were contacted for comment. Neither has responded publicly to the allegations. "Plaintiff Marisa Watley was brutally raped by Defendant Justice Armani Blackburn following a New Years Eve party at Defendant James Harden's mansion home," the complaint says. According to the lawsuit, filed in the Harris County District Clerk District, Watley's friends had allegedly told the security team that she appeared to be missing in the house and that the guards were aware that women were passed out from intoxication throughout the house. "Nonetheless, Mr. Harden's security team recklessly failed to protect Ms. Watley on Mr. Harden's property — and the result was a sexual assault from which she will suffer indefinitely," the lawsuit says. Watley, a real estate agent, said in a statement: "Since New Year's Day, when I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I have remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden's security behaved that day — it is painful to imagine that this all could have been stopped in time. I hope this complaint pushes security employees generally to act more responsibly when women are in danger." The complaint says she now speaks with a heavy stutter due to the "severe trauma" of the alleged rape. The lawsuit says that Watley and two friends met at a restaurant on New Year's Eve before going to a party at a nearby club. At about 3:30 a.m., they allegedly saw Harden in a VIP area and learned of a party at his house. The three women took an Uber to his house — the complaint says Watley thought they were going to a friend's apartment — where an armed security guard checked their IDs and told them to go to the recording studio inside, the lawsuit says. There, the lawsuit says, Blackburn gave all three women a drink that caused them to pass out. The lawsuit says that Watley's memory from this point "becomes extremely hazy" as she faded in and out of consciousness. "The next thing Ms. Watley recalls is being shocked into consciousness while lying face down on a bed with a man behind her having aggressive sex with her," the lawsuit says. Watley alleges that after this, a security guard told her to leave. The lawsuit says her two friends had already been told to leave and were locked out despite telling security guards that their friend and some possessions were still inside. The lawsuit says they were allegedly told no women were in the house, but the friends soon saw more women leaving. Watley's two friends had her iPhone and were able to contact her sister through her emergency contacts at 10:44 a.m., who then called the police. The lawsuit alleges that it wasn't until after 1:29 p.m. that Watley emerged. Her attorneys, Michael J. Willemin and John S. Crain from Wigdor, and Jay Ellwanger and Kaylyn Betts of Ellwanger Henderson, said in a joint statement that Watley showed "great strength and courage" in reporting the allegations. "This rape was immediately reported to the police, and we will bring Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden to justice through the civil justice system," they said.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Clippers' James Harden accused of negligence in sexual assault case
According to the 18-page filing, Watley says she attended the New Year's Eve party with two of her friends and that she was sexually assaulted while unconscious by Justice Armani Blackburn, who is Harden's nephew. Watley says her friends were later removed by Harden's security, even though she was still inside the residence. The friends then contacted Watley's sister, who in turn contacted Harden's sister, who is the mother of Blackburn. The lawsuit says the sister submitted a photo of Watley to Harden's security, who said that the woman inside was not Marisa Watley, despite the lawsuit alleging that Watley was indeed in the mansion at that time. The negligence claim against Harden stems from the complaint alleging the conduct of Harden's in-home security, which they say failed to act responsibly in response to outside calls for help and could have prevented the sexual assault. "Since New Year's Day, when I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I have remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden's security behaved that day--it is painful to imagine that this all could have been stopped in time. I hope this complaint pushes security employees generally to act more responsibly when women are in danger," Watley said in a statement. Harden, 35, a 11-time NBA All-Star and six-time first-team All-NBA selection, just completed his second season with the Clippers, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. "Ms. Watley has shown great strength and courage in coming forward to hold Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden accountable for what happened to her on New Year's Day 2025 in Mr. Harden's mansion. This rape was immediately reported to the police, and we will bring Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden to justice through the civil justice system," Watley attorneys, Michael J. Willemin, John S. Crain, and Jay Ellwanger and Kaylyn Betts said in a statement.
