Fashion Designer Gets Light Sentence From French Court For Anti-Semitic Rants

Reuters and The Guardian both report that British fashion designer John Galliano was found guilty today by a French court of making "public insults" based on origin, religion, race or ethnicity.  Charges against the former head Dior designer grew out of two anti-Semitic rants at a Paris bar, one last October and the other in February.  In the most recent incident, Galliano hurled 30 anti-Jewish insults at a French couple in the bar within a 45-minute period.  Galliano testified at his trial that he could not remember the incidents because of his addictions to alcohol, sleeping tablets and Valium.  The court sentenced Galliano to a suspended fine of 6000 Euros ($8421 US), over 5000 Euros in legal fees and nominal damages of 1 Euro to each of the civil parties in the case.  He could have been sentenced to as much as 6 months in prison. Justifying the light sentence, the court pointed to a lack of prior criminal convictions, Galliano's previous regard for respect and tolerance and the treatment for drug and alcohol addiction he obtained after his arrest. (See prior related posting.)