John Galliano In Court For 'Nazi Racism' Trial
source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/John-Galliano-Racism-Trial-Designer-To-Appear-In...
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Fashion designer John Galliano will appear in court in France today facing charges of making anti-semitic comments in a cafe.
A video of the 50-year-old creative director of Dior verbally abusing people in a cafe in Paris did the rounds in March. In the video Galliano seems drunk and he tells a woman that "loved Hitler" and that her parents might have been gassed during the Holocaust.
The video was allegedly filmed in December and led to complaints of two incidents of anti-semitic comments being made by the British designer.
The video got Galliano fired with immediate effect and forced Dior's new celebrity face Natalie Portman, who was born in Israel to Jewish parents, to make a clear stand that she didn't want anything to do with the designer.
If he is found guilty, Galliano faces a fine of up to 22,000 Euro (around £19,500) and a six-month prison sentence.
Since he was fired from Dior he has been treated for substance abuse problems and his lawyer has said that his addictions were to blame for his behaviour.
"One obvious thing is that John Galliano was ill," Aurelian Hamelle said.
"He had a triple addiction to alcohol, benzodiazepine (valium) and sleeping pills."
The lawyer added Galliano himself was baffled to see how he acted in the video.
The designer has repeatedly apologised for the recorded remarks and has insisted he is not anti-semitic or racist.
Five people are expected to give evidence in the trial.
Two women who were sitting next to him during the February 24 incident have said they did not hear him say anything anti-semitic.
However, two Italian friends of the woman who was allegedly insulted by Galliano in December have confirmed her version of events. Galliano's lawyer has said this demonstrates there is doubt about what was said.
Galliano himself "does not remember because he was in an altered state", Hemelle added.
Is his lawyer the only person with an internet connection that hasn't seen this video?!
Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/John-Galliano-Racism-Trial-Designer-...
A video of the 50-year-old creative director of Dior verbally abusing people in a cafe in Paris did the rounds in March. In the video Galliano seems drunk and he tells a woman that "loved Hitler" and that her parents might have been gassed during the Holocaust.
The video was allegedly filmed in December and led to complaints of two incidents of anti-semitic comments being made by the British designer.
The video got Galliano fired with immediate effect and forced Dior's new celebrity face Natalie Portman, who was born in Israel to Jewish parents, to make a clear stand that she didn't want anything to do with the designer.
If he is found guilty, Galliano faces a fine of up to 22,000 Euro (around £19,500) and a six-month prison sentence.
Since he was fired from Dior he has been treated for substance abuse problems and his lawyer has said that his addictions were to blame for his behaviour.
"One obvious thing is that John Galliano was ill," Aurelian Hamelle said.
"He had a triple addiction to alcohol, benzodiazepine (valium) and sleeping pills."
The lawyer added Galliano himself was baffled to see how he acted in the video.
The designer has repeatedly apologised for the recorded remarks and has insisted he is not anti-semitic or racist.
Five people are expected to give evidence in the trial.
Two women who were sitting next to him during the February 24 incident have said they did not hear him say anything anti-semitic.
However, two Italian friends of the woman who was allegedly insulted by Galliano in December have confirmed her version of events. Galliano's lawyer has said this demonstrates there is doubt about what was said.
Galliano himself "does not remember because he was in an altered state", Hemelle added.
Is his lawyer the only person with an internet connection that hasn't seen this video?!
Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/John-Galliano-Racism-Trial-Designer-...
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