"We are confident that he will be found innocent"
Nov 13, 2008 - 05:51 PM
By Stefanie Swinson
OSHAWA -- The man accused of punching two women at a local school is a "victim," and his lawyer says he is confident Mark Scott, 43, will be found innocent.
"I've been advised not to speak with the media," Mr. Scott said Thursday, referring questions to Mark Jacula, the man who will represent him in court.
Mr. Scott was charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm in connection with an altercation outside Gordon B. Attersley Public School on Nov. 3.
Two women, Anji Dimitriou, 30, and Jane Currie, 37, said they were attacked by a man in front of their children's elementary school because they are lesbians.
The incident prompted Ms. Dimitriou and Ms. Currie to demand that Durham Regional Police upgrade the charges to a hate crime.
Mr. Scott's lawyer said in the news release his client has been a victim of racial and physical abuse and is looking forward to his day in court.
"The truth surrounding this incident will come to light," Mr. Jacula said.
"The parties responsible will be held accountable for the racially motivated and unprovoked attack he suffered."
Ms. Dimitriou said that the allegations by Mr. Scott's lawyer of a physical assault are "absolutely wrong" and there is no basis to claims that there were racial overtones.
"If he's going to try and play the race card, he should say it was someone else, because I'm from a mixed family," Ms. Dimitriou said.
A rally in support of Ms. Currie and Ms. Dimitriou is set to take place outside Oshawa City Hall at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14.
Mr. Scott is scheduled to make his first court appearance Dec. 16.
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