admin
The Herald, July 4, 1981
A GERMAN man who swore at a woman as she tried to reverse her car out of a parking bay was fined $40 (or 10 days) by a Salisbury magistrate, Mr Malachy Purcell, yesterday.
Mrs Barbara Sacks was about to reverse her car, in which her two children and a friend were passengers, from a bay in Union Avenue on September 11 last year when Thomas Faller (37) parked his car behind her.
Mrs Sacks said she called to Faller that she wanted to drive out and that he could have the space. Faller, who had started unpacking the boot, leaned in at her window and swore at her. With the help of another man, Mrs Sacks manoeuvred her car from behind Faller’s. She told Faller she would report his conduct to the police. He swore at her again.
Mr Purcell dismissed Faller’s claim that Mrs Sacks had lied to the court and convicted him of criminal injuria.
Mr Purcell said the public had to be deterred from swearing at women who were less able to defend themselves. The deposit fine for swearing in public was $10 but this case was far more serious, he said.
Mr Garikayi Mandizha appeared for the State.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- Criminal injuria is defined as an action that injures the dignity of another person, especially the use of racially offensive language.
- People should always strive to respect each other and one of the best ways of doing that is by being polite when talking to one another.
- Swearing at someone, especially of the opposite sex is not only being rude but it also demeans the other person and hurts their self-esteem.
- Road rage is a serious issue amongst drivers as it has in some instance resulted in physical confrontation between drivers and sometimes passengers leading to injuries and even deaths.
- It is important for drivers to be courteous to others and strive as much as possible not to act in a manner that angers the other driver.
Online Reporter