Ray Davies shooting case dropped

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Charges have been dropped against the man accused of shooting Kinks singer Ray Davies because the star failed to appear in court for a second time.

Davies said he was given only a few days' notice of last Thursday's case, which has been closed by prosecutors.

The singer, 63, was shot in the leg while on holiday in New Orleans in 2004. He had chased two men who stole his girlfriend's bag, police said.

Jerome Barra, 28, had been charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery.

The Kinks are Mick Avory, Dave Davies, John Dalton and Ray Davies

Davies told New Orleans' Times-Picayune newspaper he had been unable to get to the trial in time.

"I am very disappointed with the way this case has been handled," he was reported as saying.

"I intend to pursue it further."

The case was also dismissed from court in 2005 because Davies was not in court, but prosecutors reserved the right to resume the trial.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office said Davies's absence this time made it impossible to continue.

Court records showed that prosecutors, the defence and Judge Calvin Johnson agreed on the trial date on 17 May.

The Kinks were founded by Davies and his brother Dave in 1963 in London.

They are famed for songs including Waterloo Sunset, You Really Got Me and Lola, which were written by Ray Davies.

He was made a CBE in 2004, a few months after the shooting.