Verstappen on trial for assault

[Don K]

I just heard on the radio that Verstappen was found not guilty.
According to the radio, the judge said there was not enough evidence.
According to http://www.verstappen.nl, the judge said that Verstappen and his father have obviously been provoked by the other party.

[Sparky]

A good result for JV. A weight off his mind no doubt, it's a shame it took so long for the acquittal. Who can say what effect this had on his career the last two years?

It also goes to show that one shouldn't jump to conclusions about guilt.

Happy day!

[angst]

Have Atlas F1 got their facts wrong? Just read an article there which says Verstappen was found guilty and given a five years suspended sentence, a reduced punishment due to the out of court settlement.

[Gerard]

Jos Verstappen, his father and some friends were involved in a fight at a go-kart track in Belgium.
That's a fact, there was a fight.

The court in Belgium cleared Jos of all charges.
His father has also been cleared of all charges and no penal sanctions will follow. The judge accepted that both Jos and his father clearly had been provoked during a karting race at the Lanaken track in Belgium. (A provocation I already mentioned in my earlier post on this subject).

This means there is no evidence that the injuries that were inflicted upon the victim were done by Jos or his father.
However, Jos was involved in a fight and only therefore he has been given a five years suspended sentence.

Jos feels very relieved now that the matter is closed.
He always said he was innocent and blames the press for blowing up the whole story.
He's now trying to forget it and wants to go on with his business.

[Jay]

Wasn't he found guilty and given a 5 year suspended sentence. That is what BBC and Autorace.com report. I'll take their word on it.

I didn't think a 5 year suspended sentence meant 'cleared of all charges'.

Jos recieved a lighter sentence because he made a financial settlement with his vitim. So as long as he behaves himself for the next 5 years he will not be going to jail.

It seems like a fair sentence.

[Liz]

Be that as it may, Jos is now free to get on with his life and perhaps he will not get in any more fights, which is a good thing. Because you never know what kind of person you may be fighting next time ...

When you're taling about a free fight I can't imagine that anyone could say with certainty who hit whom, and have always thought that it was a troublemaker who fingered Jos - figuring here was someone who would settle up and they might get some big money to go away.