Okor Monony: A man was not found guilty of raising abuse of former English international after rugby match

The man who shouted a racially offensive word near the former International Utility of England Rugbi Union, after a rugby match, was found guilty of a public order offense.

Angus Beukes, 32, from South Africa, made a comment on the Sandy Park Stadium Exeter’s exeter after exeter chiefs played Gloucester on November 20, 2023.

The Magistrate Exeter Court heard that Mr. Monye commented on the Premiership match and went to his taxi to the train station around 5 pm.

The former Harlequins player turned to Pindit described that he had heard a man with South African accent who had been using N-Rijeka repeatedly, leaving him “extremely shocked.”

Mr. Beukes, a mechanic who was represented in court via a video link from South Africa, denied the charges of causing racially worse harassment, alarm or trouble.

He insisted that he talk to a friend, who is also South Africa, and the word is acceptable in their homeland.

Magistrati declared him guilty of the accusation, concluding that the prosecutors had not proven that Mr. Beukes, who was mixed race, knew the word was offensive in Britain.

Justice Chairman Paul Doyle said that “the key point” was whether Mr. Beukes intended to threaten his actions, abused or insult, and whether he knew they could be.

“We heard in the evidence that the use of N-Riječi was directed toward your friend,” Mr. Doyle told Mr. Beukes.

“We also heard that there was no general socializing outside the South African community with which you shared the house while you were in the UK during the time you were here.

“We heard from many independent witnesses. Most of them agreed that the use of N-Riječi was used according to your friend to prevent her from using her phone.

“Mr. Monye’s evidence is that N-Rijeka has been used repeatedly, also following when he complained with you and while you were running away.”

Mr. Doyle said that Mr. Beukes was in the UK just six months at the time of the offense, and the question for the bench was whether he was aware that the N-Riječ was offensive in British culture during that time.

“Ous is on prosecution to show us that this was the case,” he added. “We discover that they have not shown this out of reasonable doubt. As these elements are not fully proven to be a satisfactory standard, we believe you are not guilty of a criminal offense.”

Prosecutor, Maree Doyle read the witness statements, including Mr. Monye, ​​describing how a man with South African accent shouted N-Rijeka while the crowds left the stadium.

In a statement, Mr. Monye said, “I felt immediately shocked because the word was extremely offensive. I heard the word said again as the man passed by me. The male stood in front of me and repeated the word.

“My first thought was that he would have to be drunk to shout the word publicly. I had a bag over my shoulder. I lowered her to the floor to challenge his behavior.

“I said,” Mate, you can’t say that. “I caught him at the top of the jacket. We were kind of jerking, but it didn’t get more physically than that. I expected to apologize. He seemed to just double.”

Mr. Monye said the supporters had separated two men and asked that someone was photographing Mr. Beukes, but no one did it. He claimed that Mr. Beukes re -repeated the racial snack before he escaped.

“He said that as he looks me in the eye,” Mr. Monony added.

In the evidence, Mr. Beukes said his friends invited him to the game and attended with a colleague, also from South Africa.

He insisted that the N-Rijeka had no “significant meaning” in South Africa and was not aware that it was offensive until the reaction of Mr. Monye.

“In South Africa, we are reprimanding like that,” Mr. Beukes added. “In my country that means nothing. That doesn’t make sense.”

Mr. Beukes told the court that he only used the n word once, saying “my n-array, put down the phone” as she caused a narrow throat in the order of fans waiting to leave the stadium.

The bosses apologized to Mr. Monye after the incident, investigated by the police Devon and Cornwall.

In a statement published at the time, the Rugby Football Union said he was “appalled” to what happened and promised his “full support” to Mr. Monye.

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