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Closing arguments in Buck trial

The jury in the 'air rage' trial of REM guitarist Peter Buck has retired to consider its verdict.

Both sides in the trial spent yesterday summing up.

Buck is accused of attacking two cabin staff and covering them in yoghurt, knocking over a trolley and trying to steal a knife.

He said that he suffered a rare reaction after taking a sleeping tablet and drinking up to six small glasses of red wine.

He said that he blacked out and "awoke" in a police cell.

Prosecuting counsel accused the guitarist of trying to cover up a drunken air rage attack in order to protect his multi-million pound career.

The prosecution said that Mr Buck had "a powerful motive to change his story because he realises it will reflect badly upon him and the group".

The defence side said the case against Buck was "riddled with contradiction and blighted by confusion" and that it could have been a case of mistaken identity.

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