A cyclist who hit the headlines in Belgium at Christmas when a video of him knocking over a 5-year-old girl in the snow went viral has appeared before the courts, with the prosecutors setting out their case and the cyclist detailing his defence.
The cyclist, who is aged 60 years, was out cycling in the
snow on Christmas Day when he happened across the girl and her parents.
As he passed the mother and child his knee made contact
with the girl’s back and she fell. Her father was recording a video at the time
and remonstrated with the cyclist, who continued on his way.
However, when the video of the incident in Hautes Fagnes was shared on social media it went viral, below.
The cyclist came forward after a police appeal for witnesses and while he contacted the girl’s family they said he did not apologise in a genuine way and now he has appeared in court charged with alleged assault and battery of the girl.
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The cyclist, at Verviers Criminal Court, said he never
intended to hurt anyone and when he had met people on his route earlier in the
ride he had taken great care.
He said when he saw the family ahead of him he braked and sounded his bell but when he was passing the girl and her mother he felt his back wheel slipping and instantly shot out his leg to re-balance himself.
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“I felt that I had touched the little girl but I did not
immediately realise that she had fallen. Her father grabbed me by the shoulders
and shouted,” he said.
“I apologised and told him I hadn’t seen her. As he was threatening me, I continued on my way when I saw that the little one had got up and that she was not injured.”
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However, the prosecutor said the cyclist complained in
his statement about people he had met on his route earlier in the day as they
were obstacles to his cycling.
It was alleged the cyclist was annoyed at this and “was
exhausted and had decided to bring a knee to the child to clear one of the
countless obstacles that were in his way”.
“This gentleman has been subpoenaed today
for assault and battery on a minor and for his attitude. Had he not denied
the charges against him, alternative measures could have been considered,” said
the public prosecutor.
It emerged the cyclist had contacted the family of the
girl and asked for the video to be taken off social media and when the family
did not agree he presented himself to the police.
However, the cyclist’s lawyer pointed out the girl was not injured and that the case against his client was disproportionate as he had simply being trying to balance himself. The lawyer added his client was only in court now because it was deemed he had not apologised properly.
The case was expected before the court again on March 3rd.
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