A woman accused of making derogatory comments about Asian tourists in Queenstown, that sparked an incident where her associate threw a hot chocolate on another woman, has been convicted and fined.
Brit Lucy Emily D'Amico (24) appeared in the Alexandra District Court today.
D'Amico (24) faced one charge of acting in an offensive manner likely to cause violence following an incident in which her associate, who has been granted interim name suppression, allegedly poured a hot drink over someone outside Fergbaker, in Shotover St, Queenstown, at 12.30am on November 20.
The associate allegedly threw the drink on woman who had challenged D'Amico, the woman said D'Amico had made the offensive comments.
Lawyer Joseph Mooney told the court D'Amico was not racist, was extensively travelled and was a teacher of English as a second language.
D'Amico's comments had been "just an observation" she made to her friend, she did not realise people were listening in, and had no part in throwing of the hot chocolate, he said.*
Judge Dominic Flatley responded that defining an individual by race was racist, and convicted and fined D'Amico, who is leaving for England on December 14. She was also ordered to pay $130 court costs.
Her associate is scheduled to reappear in Queenstown District Court on December 12.
