Kyle Butler enlists Tavares-Finson, Martin, Castle in assault case

National Under 23 footballer Kyle Butler has hired Tom Tavares-Finson, Donahue Martin Jr, and Sean-Christopher Castle as his lawyers as he seeks justice for an alleged assault on him by an unnamed attacker last week.

A statement released by Tavares-Finson on Sunday afternoon says Butler has now gone to the police about the matter.

"Mr Kyle Butler has given a statement to the Jamaica Constabulary Force concerning this matter and will be exhausting all legal recourse possible as he instructs the watch and/or conduct of all related matters by myself, Mr Donahue Martin Jr and Mr Sean-Christopher Castle, his Attorneys-at-Law," Tavares-Finson said.

Butler made a series of tweets, some now deleted, last week, alleging that he was stabbed and left to bleed to death during a training session at Mona High School on Monday afternoon. He substantiated the allegation with photos showing deep wounds to his arm, a cut on his inner lip, and a welt on his left shoulder blade, which he said was from a previous attack with a machete.

Although Kyle did not identify the attacker by name, his father, Craig Butler, then told STAR Sports that the allegation was not true, as Kyle had fallen on a stick. Kyle also said that this attacker has mentally and physically abused he and his mother since he was eight or nine years old.

Craig later denied any wrongdoing in the matter, saying he would never harm his son, but instead described him as troubled and needing saving. Kyle's mother, Sophia Smith Butler also posted on Facebook that she fully supports Kyle and stands by the allegations he made. That post has also since been deleted.

rachid.parchment@gleanerjm.com