John Galliano goes on trial for anti-Semitic slurs
(CBS/AP) PARIS - Ousted Christian Dior designer John Galliano will go on trial Wednesday on charges of racism and anti-Semitism stemming from his drunken rant in a Paris cafe last February.
The 50-year-old British designer is charged with "public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity" and could face up to six months in prison and euros 22,500 ($32,175) in fines. The verdict is expected at a later date.
Galliano, whose allegations shocked the fashion world and ultimatelycost him his job at the renowned French high-fashion house, will be at the one-day trial, his lawyer Aurelien Hamelle said.
A couple contended that Galliano made anti-Semitic comments to them in the cafe in the Marais district last February. Galliano was taken in by police for questioning, and an alcohol test showed he was drunk at the time.
Another woman then came forward with similar claims about an incident in the same cafe last October. Both accusations are being addressed at Wednesday's trial.
Days after the February incident, a video was broadcast on the website of the British tabloid The Sun showing an inebriated Galliano insulting a fellow cafe client, slurring "I love Hitler."
Hamelle told The Associated Press this week that the designer's comments were "misplaced and hurtful," but attributed them to Galliano's addition to alcohol and prescription drugs.
During his trial, his addictions will reportedly be put to blame and used as evidence for his verbal tirade. According to a court dossier, obtained by the London's Evening Standard, Galliano commonly used foul language after a few drinks that his chauffeur was "trained" to call his lawyers if any arguments grew heated.
Galliano issued a statement at the time saying: "Anti-Semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologize for my behavior in causing any offense." He also said he was "seeking help" for personal failures, spending two months in rehab in the United States, Hamelle said.
The lawyer said he will call witnesses who were in the cafe for both incidents, but did not hear any insults by Galliano.
An eventual conviction could depend on whether the court determines that the insults were made publicly or not.
The February cafe incident and the video reverberated throughout the fashion world, and came down on the eve of Paris Fashion Week.
Dior fired Galliano in March after 14 years with the company and denounced his comments right after Oscar-winner and Dior spokeswoman Natalie Portman publicly condemned his behavior.
Galliano, who joined the company in 1996, made an indelible mark on the storied house, with theatrical, often outrageous, runway shows that were among the most-anticipated displays on the Paris fashion calendar.
Wednesday's trial, too, comes on the opening day of another round of Paris fashion shows, the menswear spring-summer 2012 collection.
