Penny Sparrow in plea bargain talks

schumi

schumi

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Durban - Controversial KwaZulu-Natal realtor Penny Sparrow is in plea bargain negotiations with the State, the Scottsburgh Magistrate's Court heard on Monday.

Both the State and defence attorneys confirmed they had entered section 105 discussions. However, both parties required more time to continue negotiations, Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo heard.

Hlatshwayo was visibly angered at the move, saying he should have been informed of negotiations prior to court proceedings getting under way.

“I want to state my unhappiness at this move. This should have been done long before arriving at court. Not on the day. I will allow a 30 minute break. But I must emphasise this should have been indicated to me before court.”

He added: “I walked into court at 09:00 and there was not a soul in court. I should have been at least informed.”


Racist rant

In June, the Umzinto Equality Court ordered Sparrow to pay R150 000 to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation for her racist Facebook rant.

The African National Congress took Sparrow to court in January after she referred to black beachgoers as monkeys on Facebook.

In an interview with News24, Sparrow explained that "monkey" was used as a term of endearment by white people.

Sparrow, who had been in hiding at the time, broke down as she revealed that she had received threats after her comments.

"The threats were terrible... my phone was so busy that I couldn't dial out. There were terrible death threats. People said they were going to bomb my house and people sent pictures of naked women and saying I was going to be raped... it was shocking," she said.

Several South Africans have landed themselves in hot water for racist comments they made on social networks. They include Vicki Momberg, Capetonian Matthew Theunissen, Standard Bank’s Chris Hart and government official Velaphi Khumalo.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/penny-sparrow-in-plea-bargain-talks-20160912
 
Big wow. She obviously didn't have the money.

They will probably get her do a bit of community work at a homeless shelter or something.
 
I do not know what the charges are, but I am sure it cannot be crimen injuria. As far as I know, for crimen injuria to succeed in court, the crime had to be directed at an individual and not a general group of people.
 
Last edited:
Delays as plea negotiations continue for Sparrow

Durban – The Director of Public Prosecutions was required to give approval for plea bargain proceedings in racist former real estate agent Penny Sparrow’s case, the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.

She is facing a charge of crimen injuria. Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo briefly adjourned the matter on Monday morning so it could be finalised.

He warned a woman identified as Sparrow’s daughter to stop standing next to her during court proceedings.

"You are not to stand with her in the dock. Your support is appreciated, but you must sit in the public gallery."

The court was empty, except for a contingent of reporters in the public gallery.

In June, the Umzinto Equality Court ordered Sparrow to pay R150 000 to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation for a racist rant she posted on Facebook. She referred to black beachgoers, celebrating New Year’s day in Durban, as monkeys.

The ANC took the matter to court. Once the Equality Court matter was finalised, Sparrow had to face the criminal charge in the Scottburgh Magistrate's Court.

In an interview with News24 at the time, Sparrow insisted that "monkey" was a term of endearment whites used for black people.

Sparrow said she had gone into hiding and received threats.

"There were terrible death threats. People said they were going to bomb my house and people sent pictures of naked women and saying I was going to be raped... it was shocking," she said.

Several South Africans have landed themselves in hot water for racist comments they made on social networks this year. They include estate agent Vicki Momberg, Capetonian Matthew Theunissen, Standard Bank economist Chris Hart, and Gauteng government official Velaphi Khumalo.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/delays-as-plea-negotiations-continue-for-sparrow-20160912
 
schumi said:
Several South Africans have landed themselves in hot water for racist comments they made on social networks this year. They include estate agent Vicki Momberg, Capetonian Matthew Theunissen, Standard Bank economist Chris Hart, and Gauteng government official Velaphi Khumalo
Click to expand...

Speaking of the one guy in all this mess that was entirely innocent and didn't say a single racist thing, here's what his twitter blurb (https://twitter.com/chrishartZA) says at the moment:
Truth essential for solutions. Truth can be offensive
Click to expand...
 
ambroseg1 said:
I do feel for her. And I am of the race she thinks are monkeys. As much as I despise this woman, I do still feel she has the right to be a racist if she so wishes. And she has the right to say any racist crap she wants as long as it doesn't incite violence. Just like people have the right to be stupid. And Christian. And Jewish. And homosexual. And anti-SANRAL. And Pro-black. And and and and (all just examples of things people can be and say whatever they want to about. Not saying the examples mentioned are in any way bad or derogatory). And whatever else they feel like. Just my humble opinion. Don't preach free speech if you don't really mean it.
Click to expand...
I agree. There must be some personal space where you can think whatever you want to. But I don't agree that she has the right to say racist crap in public. Its hate speech. Same as the lgbti bashing priest.
 
ambroseg1 said:
So what you are saying, is that people are not allowed to say things in public that may offend a certain group of the population?
Click to expand...
No...Offense is a part of an open society, we need to be grown up. But there is a difference between me saying that the bokke suck, and saying that all Somalians are rapists and thieves. What I am saying is that people shouldn't be allowed to say things that demean and stereotype a population group along the lines of race, sex, religion etc. If that makes me an inconsistent defender of free speech, so be it.
 
Under the new laws she would have received jail time?
 
St Eti1 said:
No...Offense is a part of an open society, we need to be grown up. But there is a difference between me saying that the bokke suck, and saying that all Somalians are rapists and thieves. What I am saying is that people shouldn't be allowed to say things that demean and stereotype a population group along the lines of race, sex, religion etc. If that makes me an inconsistent defender of free speech, so be it.
Click to expand...

:erm:

:crylaugh:
 
Sparrow criminal matter 'complex' - prosecutor

Durban – The criminal case against Penny Sparrow is a complex one and requires consultation with a number of people, the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.

Prosecutor Ranjeni Chowthee asked for a short adjournment, saying the matter “has many complexities”. These included having to speak to a number of complainants. Twenty of them were from Umlazi.

Sparrow faces a charge of crimen injuria for her racist Facebook post in January.

The court earlier heard that Sparrow had entered into plea bargain talks. Chowthee said the State was consulting affected parties, including the complainants, about Sparrow’s letter of apology, which she wrote as part of the plea agreement.

“There are certain issues in the apology and we are requesting time to sort this out. The complainants have asked for some things to be added to the apology.”

Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo granted a one-hour adjournment in the interests of a speedy trial. It was the third delay in the case.

“At the same time I express my unhappiness on how things are happening. There was no proper organisation,” he said.

“The public eye is looking at us, and wants to know what’s happening and we need to be seen to know what we are doing,” he said.

In June, the Umzinto Equality Court ordered Sparrow to pay R150 000 to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation for her racist Facebook rant. She compared blacks celebrating New Year’s day on Durban’s beaches to monkeys.

The ANC took the matter to court. Once the Equality Court case had been finalised, Sparrow was sent to the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court to face a criminal charge.

In an interview with News24 in June, Sparrow said whites used “monkey” as a term of endearment for blacks. She said she had received threats and had gone into hiding.

“There were terrible death threats. People said they were going to bomb my house and people sent pictures of naked women and saying I was going to be raped... it was shocking,” she said.

Several South Africans have landed themselves in hot water for racist comments they made on social networks this year. They include estate agent Vicki Momberg, Capetonian Matthew Theunissen, Standard Bank economist Chris Hart and Gauteng sports, arts and culture department employee Velaphi Khumalo.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sparrow-criminal-matter-complex-prosecutor-20160912
 
“The public eye is looking at us, and wants to know what’s happening and we need to be seen to know what we are doing,” he said.
Click to expand...

Should be interesting.
 
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