Leipzig (Germany), Feb 25 (DPA) A German court convicted three more men Tuesday of assault in connection with a 2007 attack on a group of Indian migrants.
After a dance-floor brawl, the Indians fled across a street to a pizza parlour, pursued by a crowd of German men. Police were also injured as they drove back the mob in the eastern town of Muegeln.
Leipzig prosecutors said Tuesday evening that the court in Oschatz had handed one man, aged 22, a suspended, 20-month jail term after he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, perjury and sedition.
Witnesses said he hit the Indians and yelled racist insults.
Another man, 24, received a suspended term of 14 months for participating in causing grievous bodily harm. Witnesses said he kicked an Indian man who was lying on the ground.
A man who was 18 at the time of the August 2007 violence was found guilty of an assault before the mob chase and was ordered to do community service. Witnesses said he released a pepper spray into the face of an Indian running from the dance tent before the mob chase.
Eight Indians had been attending the dance during a town festival when the violence broke out. They suffered bruises and cuts.
Witnesses said worse might have happened if the police had not intervened so quickly.
The incident caused shock in India and calls for the government to act. Indian diplomats protested to German authorities.
A series of German men have been convicted of assault and sedition. The most serious penalties were suspended jail terms.
Prosecutors in Leipzig said Tuesday’s convictions completed the inquiry, and nobody else would be charged.
DPA
‘Guilty’ Sly’s quid pro quo with equally ‘guilty’ pedestrian
New York, Feb 18 (ANI): Sylvester Stallone narrowly avoided hitting a man crossing a street in Beverly Hills while he was driving a ‘totally pimped, all-black VW Phaeton.’
The 62-year-old actor was driving when a man ‘listening to his iPod started crossing Bedford Street with the light in his favour,’ a witness said.
“The car skidded into the crosswalk, stopping just short of my buddy, who dove to the ground,” the New York Post quoted a source, as saying.
“When he looked up, he saw a guy wearing a shocked expression, in red leather bomber-type jacket, gripping the wheel with one hand as the other held his cell against his ear.
“Like the hot-headed New Yorker he is, my buddy started yelling, ‘Are you [bleep]ing kidding me?’
“Then he realized it was Sly. He told me, ‘How was I gonna yell at Stallone? I mean, I love the guy since I was a kid. It’d be almost an honor to say Rocky knocked me out at a Beverly Hills crosswalk,’ ” the source added.
The action hero “couldn’t have been more of a gentleman. He jumped out immediately to see if my friend was all right. But he couldn’t hear Sly’s concern because he was still wearing his earphones,” the source said.
“This prompted Sly, with a smile, to twirl his index finger next to his temple to indicate maybe he was crazy to cross deafened by music. My pal immediately pointed at Sly’s cell, still in his hand. They each looked at their devices and then both of them broke out laughing, realizing all parties were guilty as charged,” the source said.
“Sly extended a hand, pulled my buddy up, and asked, ‘You all right?’ When my friend assured him he was, Sly offered, ‘You sure, you need a ride or anything? Can I give you a lift?’ My friend politely declined. They fist-bumped, then with a smile, Sly showed him he was sticking his cell in his jacket before jumping back into his VW,” the source added.
Stallone’s rep, Michelle Bega, had no comment. (ANI)