I reported here that Terry Fitzpatrick had been charged with racially aggravated harassment. He appeared today at Thames Magistrates’ Court. Below is an account of the events, which is subject to the normal reporting restrictions imposed on such pre-trial proceedings.
TERRY FITZPATRICK, 63, from south Hackney, was today committed to trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of the leaders of the campaign group, Operation Black Vote.
Magistrates in Bow, east London, said they were willing to try, but accepted his request for the case to be heard before a judge and jury.
They then ordered he appear at Snaresbrook, north east London, on September 30 for a plea and case management hearing, which will set a date for his trial.
At today’s hearing, Fitzpatrick, who has been granted legal aid, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. His defence barrister, Victoria Forbes, indicated he would plead not guilty.
The indictment detailed in court shows he is charged with two counts of racially aggravated harassment.
The first count states that:
Between March 26, 2008, and December 2, 2009, Fitzpatrick pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of [OBV director] Simon Woolley and which he knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of him in that:
1. On March 27, 2008, he sent an abusive and insulting email to OBV in the knowledge that Simon Woolley would read it stating, inter alia, that “when are you black wankers going to get off your black arseholes and actually do some work”;
2. On September 12, 2008, he sent an abusive and insulting email to OBV in the knowledge that Woolley would read it, calling him a “cunt” and, inter alia, “Yo, Bro, Big Up, innit?”?;
3. On February 1, 2009, he sent an abusive and insulting email to OBV in the knowledge that Woolley would read it, calling OBV a racist organisation;
4. On April 8, 2009, he sent an abusive and insulting email to OBV in the knowledge that Woolley would read it, starting with “Big up, innit?”;
5. On December 1, 2009, he sent an abusive, threatening and insulting email to OBV in the knowledge that Woolley would read it, stating that, inter alia, “You have called me a coward, you fucking nigger, so I challenge you to a fight, not just you, but the other two named niggers, I will batter the shit out of your almost black hides”;
6. On several occasions between March 26, 2008, and December 2, 2009, he made physical appearances at or near the premises of OBV where Woolley works during closing times knowing that he would be seen by Woolley and other staff members
and at the same time pursuing the course of conduct was wholly or partly motivated to do so by hostility towards members of a particular racial group, namely Black, based on his membership of such racial group.
Count 2 of the indictment detailed in today’s hearing states:
Between March 26, 2008, and December 2, 2009, Fitzpatrick pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of the employees of OBV and which he knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of them in that:
1. he sent several abusive, threatening and insulting emails to the general email address to which all members had access;
2. on several occasions between March 26, 2008, and December 2, 2009, he made physical appearances at or near the premises of OBV at closing time knowing that he would be seen by the staff members.
and at the same time pursuing the course of conduct was wholly or partly motivated to do so by hostility towards members of a particular racial group, namely Black, based on their membership of such racial group.
Magistrates also re-confirmed Fitzpatrick’s bail conditions, which are not to contact, directly or indirectly, Woolley or [OBV deputy director] Ashok Viswanathan, or any staff of OBV, or to go to or to enter [OBV’s office at] 18A Victoria Park Square in Bethnal Green.
Ends
Terry Fitzpatrick intends to represent himself at trial and call some interesting witnesses. It could be lively.
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Trial by Jeory 