Viscount denies threatening Brexit campaigner Gina Miller with ‘menacing’ online post
Written by News on 02/05/2017
A viscount has denied threatening Brexit campaigner Gina Miller and branding her a "troublesome first generation immigrant" on Facebook.
Rhodri Philipps, the 4th Viscount St Davids, is accused of writing the message four days after Ms Miller won a landmark High Court ruling against the Government on Brexit last year.
On 7 November, he is alleged to have posted: "£5,000 for the first person to ‘accidentally’ run over this bloody troublesome first generation immigrant.
"If this is what we should expect from immigrants, send them back to their stinking jungles."
During a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Lord Davids, of Knightsbridge, central London, corrected deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram when he addressed him by the wrong title.
He was called "Mr St Davids" when he was asked to stand, but responded: "I’m not Mr St Davids, I’m afraid, it’s Lord St Davids."
Wearing an olive tweed gilet, he pleaded not guilty to three charges of making malicious communications that were "of a menacing character".
In another post, thought to be in response to a newspaper story about an immigrant called Arnold Sube, he allegedly wrote: "Please will someone smoke this ghastly insult to this country, why should I pay tax to feed these monkeys?"
Andrew Rinker, defending, said: "I think a lot of these comments are taken completely out of context, he calls his own daughter a little monkey."
Lord Davids will face trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 10 July. Ms Miller is expected to give evidence.
The Brexit campaigner has claimed she received abuse after fronting a legal challenge which eventually forced Theresa May to consult Parliament before beginning the formal process of leaving the EU.
(c) Sky News 2017: Viscount denies threatening Brexit campaigner Gina Miller with ‘menacing’ online post
