"A BBC investigation led by BBC Scotland boss Ken MacQuarrie found that Clarkson had subjected Oisin Tymon to a 30-second physical attack after a sustained verbal tirade. Tymon took himself to an A&E department after the assault.
It emerged on Wednesday that Clarkson could face a police investigation into his attack on Tymon after North Yorkshire police asked the BBC for a copy of MacQuarrie’s report.
The report, published on Wednesday, revealed the full extent of the attack at the Simonstone Hall hotel in North Yorkshire, which took place after a day’s filming in Newcastle on 4 March.
MacQuarrie concluded that Tymon was “subject to an unprovoked physical and verbal attack” by Clarkson, during which he was “struck, resulting in swelling and bleeding to his lip”.
The attack “lasted around 30 seconds and was halted by the intervention of a witness”, and Tymon “offered no retaliation”.
It said Tymon was “shocked and distressed by the incident” and “drove to a nearby A&E department for examination”.
The report added that Clarkson verbally abused Tymon “on more than one occasion – both during the attack and subsequently inside the hotel – and contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him.
“The abuse was at such volume as to be heard in the dining room, and the shouting was audible in a hotel bedroom.”
In a statement, North Yorkshire police said it “is liaising with the BBC regarding the alleged incident in North Yorkshire involving Jeremy Clarkson.
“We have asked the BBC for the report which details the findings of their internal investigation into the matter. The information will be assessed appropriately and action will be taken by North Yorkshire police where necessary.
“It would not be appropriate for North Yorkshire police to comment further at this time.”
‘Sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature’
Hall said Clarkson had “crossed a line” by subjecting an “innocent party [to] a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature”.
He said the BBC was a “broad church” which required “distinctive and different voices but they cannot come at any price. Common to all at the BBC have to be standards of decency and respect.
“I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff – who is a completely innocent party – took himself to accident and emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature.
“For me, a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.”
Hall said: “It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract.
“It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon.
“Given the obvious and very genuine public interest in this, I am publishing the findings of his report. I take no pleasure in doing so. I know how popular the programme is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are not disputed by those involved.”
Hall is a Top Gear fan and has previously stood by the presenter following a string of controversies, including an incident last year when he appeared to mumble the N-word in a Top Gear out-take."
sauce:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/25/jeremy-clarkson-top-gear-contract-bbc
