Oasis' Noel Gallagher to appear at Toronto trial

Despite his own personal rap sheet, Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher will be playing the victim at his upcoming court appearance. The musician, who was headlining a star-studded line-up of performers at last summer’s Virgin Festival in Toronto, was attacked while on stage. His bully: 47-year old Daniel Sullivan, a contractor from Pickering who apparently admitted he was drunk when he stormed the stage. The YouTube video showing the assault (which got millions of hits) shows Gallagher being violently shoved from behind and tumbling into stage equipment. His fall resulted in broken ribs, an injury that caused Oasis to delay its tour (they missed five shows).

After charges were laid last November and Sullivan pled guilty to an assault charge, a sentence was supposed to be given out at a hearing last Friday. However, Crown prosecutor Ruth Kleinhenz postponed it when Gallagher requested an adjournment so he can come in and give his victim impact statement. 

The delay was, not surprisingly, ill-received by Sullivan’s lawyer, John Collins. "Mr. Sullivan has had this unfortunate matter hanging like an albatross around his neck for a year and a half," he stated, adding that it was unfair for Gallagher to "control the proceedings... Mr. Sullivan and I are very disappointed that the sentencing hearing did not proceed today. He pleaded guilty to this charge well over two months ago, and the 11th hour application of the Crown and the complainant, Mr. Gallagher, to be here in person to read his victim impact statement, in my view, is unreasonable.” 

Both parties will reconvene in court next Tuesday.

[Update - Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010]

According to "The Globe and Mail" and other various news outlets, Noel Gallagher won't appear in court after all. Due to reported conflicting schedules and worry of a media backlash, Gallagher has decided to no longer make a victim impact statement. A new sentencing date has been set for March 23rd.