Former Partick Thistle & Morton striker's domestic assault charge 'not proven'

A former Partick Thistle footballer walked free from court today after his domestic assault charge was found not proven.

Jai Quitongo, 22, denied assaulting his girlfriend Lauren Smith, 22, to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement in December last year.

He was accused of dragging her and pushing her down stairs at her house in Glasgow’s Carmyle area.

Today, a jury returned a not proven verdict by a majority at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Jurors heard last week that the pair had been on a night out at a club in the city’s west end.

Quitongo claimed he wasn’t playing enough for Partick Thistle at the time and wanted to “enjoy himself”.

The pair returned in separate taxi’s to Miss Smith’s house where they had a heated argument in the street.

Quitongo told jurors that Miss Smith was “annoyed” and shouted at him for leaving her alone at the nightclub.

He claimed they argued loudly for around five minutes before he warned Miss Smith that the neighbours were watching.

Quitongo added: “She said shouted that she didn’t care.

“Then I took a hold of her hood.

“I grabbed the hood from the side and pulled her towards the close, I wouldn’t say I dragged her but I pulled her.”

Miss Smith told jurors that she pushed Quitongo away and ran through her close before falling down stairs.

She suffered two fractured wrists and was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary by a neighbour.

Quitongo left with his footballer father Jose in the meantime.

Miss Smith told surgeons and police that she had been attacked by the former Partick Thistle ace, but in court she denied he had assaulted her.

She said: “I wouldn’t have said that, I was so emotional.

“I didn’t say that, I didn’t say anything about domestic abuse.”

Miss Smith added that she was on heavy painkillers at the time and couldn’t remember making a statement.

She said: “I couldn’t remember what happened, everyone was saying this must have happened but I don’t remember being in hospital.

“I was told by family and I knew that wasn’t right - this had all come from what people had told me.

“It was only when medication wore off, I remembered what happened.”

Quitongo was arrested and was bailed on the conditions of not contacting Miss Smith.

She later wrote to the procurator fiscal to have the conditions lifted.

She wrote: “Jai is definitely not a threat to me, this was out of character for myself and Jai.

“We are still in a happy relationship.”

Quitongo was acquitted mid-trial of another charge of threatening and abusive behaviour towards Miss Smith.

Quitongo is a former Hamilton Accies youth footballer who has also played for Greenock Morton.

His most recent club was Iranian side Machine Sazi.