A jury in the US state of Florida has awarded $310 million to the parents of a 14-year-old boy who tragically fell from an Orlando FreeFall ride in March of 2022 and died.

A jury in the US state of Florida has awarded $310 million to the parents of a 14-year-old boy who tragically fell from an Orlando FreeFall ride in March of 2022 and died. The jury decided that the Austrian manufacturer of the ride, Funtime, was accountable with an implication that the boy was not properly safeguarded. Jury’s decision On Thursday (Dec 5) an Orange County jury decision ruled that Funtime has to pay $155 million to each of Tyre Sampson's parents – Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. However, the manufacturer did not show up on the court during the one-day trial. Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, the family's attorneys, were very quick to praise the verdict. “This decision confirms what we have long argued: Tyre’s death was the result of negligence, a failure to prioritise safety over profits,” they said in a statement. “The manufacturers neglected their duty to protect passengers, and now they must face the consequences.” Also Read: Tragic! Disneyland's 60-year-old employee dies after golf cart accident The horrific incident Tyre Sampson was a 6-foot-2-inch, 380-pound teenager from the US state of Missouri. He had travelled to ICON Park with his friends during spring break when the tragedy struck. The 14-year-old fell off the Orlando FreeFall, one of the tallest rides in the world, which drops passengers from a height of 430 feet. Because of Tyre’s size, the shoulder harness could not pin him down adequately and ejected him when the ride braked at 70 feet from the ground. This particular ride did not have seat belts and was shut down by authorities after the incident and later demolished. Watch: Taliban riding the dodgem cars at Kabul amusement park × Safety measures In the wake of this incident, Tyre's parents alleged that the ride did not have proper safety systems in place, especially for larger passengers. They argued that adding seat belts – which is commonplace on similar rides – would have cost just $660 to install. The absence of this basic safety feature on the ride has become one of the key focuses in the case. “We can’t bring Tyre back, but we can make sure this never happens to anyone else,” Tyre’s mother, Nekia Dodd, said following the verdict. The legal battle While ICON Park had previously settled with the family for an undisclosed sum, the Sampsons now face the challenge of collecting the damages above that from Funtime. Since the company is Austrian-based, the family will have to take them to court in Europe to access the sum awarded. Tyre's unfortunate demise has sparked a wider discussion about safety measures in amusement parks, especially concerning larger or taller riders. (With inputs from agencies)

Jury awards $310 million to parents of teen killed in Orlando amusement park ride fall

Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, has been found guilty of lying about drug use to illegally buy gun. A jury in Wilmington, Delaware has found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts. What does this mean for Joe Biden's re-election campaign?

Hunter Biden convicted in gun trial: Will the conviction impact Joe Biden's Presidential race?

Hunter Biden guilty in criminal gun trial: Jury finds Hunter guilty on all 3 counts of felony

Hannah Gutierrez, the armorer on the sets of Rust, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 shooting case that led to Halyna Hutchins' death. Watch in for more details!

Rust Film Shooting Case: Jury convicts Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed of involuntary manslaughter

A jury in the US state of Michigan on Thursday convicted the father of a teenager who fatally shot four classmates at a high school near Detroit of manslaughter after prosecutors argued he bore responsibility because he and his wife gave their son a gun and ignored warning signs of violence.

Father of Michigan school shooter James Crumbley convicted of manslaughter

A jury in New Mexico found "Rust" armourer Hannah Gutierrez guilty of involuntary&nbsp;manslaughter&nbsp;on Wednesday.

Following 10 days of testimony, the trial over Hollywood's first fatal shooting on set in nearly three decades has concluded. &nbsp;

The trial centred on whether Gutierrez, who, as per Reuters, was a relatively inexperienced armourer, endangered crew and cast members by mishandling firearms on the low-budget production set in New Mexico.

<h2>The verdict</h2>

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered Gutierrez's immediate custody. The armourer faces a potential sentence of up to 18 months in state prison.

The jury deliberated for just three hours before finding her guilty of involuntary&nbsp;manslaughter. However, they acquitted&nbsp;Gutierrez of a second charge related to evidence tampering.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/getting-shot-on-rust-like-being-hit-with-baseball-bat-director-695726">Getting shot on Rust like being hit with baseball bat: Director</a>

As deputies escorted her from the courtroom, Gutierrez reassured her distressed mother, saying, "I'll be okay."&nbsp;

In the closing statement, prosecutor Kari Morrissey characterised the case as a series of safety failures leading to a tragic outcome.

"This case is about constant, never-ending safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another," said Morrissey.

<h2>A fall person</h2>

Gutierrez's lawyer, Jason Bowles, has revealed plans to appeal the verdict.

"My sense was the evidence was insufficient, and it was a lot of speculation," said Bowles.

During the trial, Bowles argued that the production company's decision to employ Gutierrez as both an armourer and props assistant to save costs contributed to the safety lapses.&nbsp;

Bowles contended that Gutierrez, as a junior member on set, was unfairly shouldering blame for management failures.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-alec-baldwins-manslaughter-trial-in-rust-shooting-case-to-begin-in-july-694185">Alec Baldwin's manslaughter trial in Rust shooting case to begin in July</a>

"You've got a convenient fall person, a convenient scapegoat," remarked the lawyer.

Movie-set firearms safety expert Bryan Carpenter testified that there was a need for additional armourers on set.

<h2>What happened on the "Rust" set</h2>

On October 21, 2021, Gutierrez mistakenly loaded a live round into a replica Colt .45 revolver, which was to be used by actor Alec Baldwin on the movie set near Santa Fe.&nbsp;

Baldwin discharged the firearm, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.&nbsp;Director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident. The actor has denied pulling the trigger, and his manslaughter trial is scheduled for July 10.

As per the Reuters report, circumstantial evidence suggested that Gutierrez unknowingly brought the live rounds from an earlier production.

(With inputs from agencies)

A jury in New Mexico found "Rust" armourer Hannah Gutierrez guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday. Following 10 days of testimony, the trial over Hollywood's first fatal shooting on set in nearly three decades has concluded.

A jury in New Mexico found "Rust" armourer Hannah Gutierrez guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday. Following 10 days of testimony, the trial over Hollywood's first fatal shooting on set in nearly three decades has concluded. The trial centred on whether Gutierrez, who, as per Reuters, was a relatively inexperienced armourer, endangered crew and cast members by mishandling firearms on the low-budget production set in New Mexico. The verdict Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered Gutierrez's immediate custody. The armourer faces a potential sentence of up to 18 months in state prison. The jury deliberated for just three hours before finding her guilty of involuntary manslaughter. However, they acquitted Gutierrez of a second charge related to evidence tampering. Also read | Getting shot on Rust like being hit with baseball bat: Director As deputies escorted her from the courtroom, Gutierrez reassured her distressed mother, saying, "I'll be okay." In the closing statement, prosecutor Kari Morrissey characterised the case as a series of safety failures leading to a tragic outcome. "This case is about constant, never-ending safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another," said Morrissey. A fall person Gutierrez's lawyer, Jason Bowles, has revealed plans to appeal the verdict. "My sense was the evidence was insufficient, and it was a lot of speculation," said Bowles. During the trial, Bowles argued that the production company's decision to employ Gutierrez as both an armourer and props assistant to save costs contributed to the safety lapses. Bowles contended that Gutierrez, as a junior member on set, was unfairly shouldering blame for management failures. Also read | Alec Baldwin's manslaughter trial in Rust shooting case to begin in July "You've got a convenient fall person, a convenient scapegoat," remarked the lawyer. Movie-set firearms safety expert Bryan Carpenter testified that there was a need for additional armourers on set. What happened on the "Rust" set On October 21, 2021, Gutierrez mistakenly loaded a live round into a replica Colt .45 revolver, which was to be used by actor Alec Baldwin on the movie set near Santa Fe. Baldwin discharged the firearm, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident. The actor has denied pulling the trigger, and his manslaughter trial is scheduled for July 10. As per the Reuters report, circumstantial evidence suggested that Gutierrez unknowingly brought the live rounds from an earlier production. (With inputs from agencies)

Hannah Gutierrez, 'Rust' armourer, found guilty of involuntary manslaughter

The case filed against Brittany Watts – a woman from Ohio – who had suffered a miscarriage and was facing indictment for abuse of a corpse, will not be taken forward, decided the grand jury on Thursday (Jan 11). 
 
The grand jury of Trumbull County, Ohio, refused to indict Watts, against whom a case was filed by the police after she suffered a miscarriage in September. The judges cancelled the indictment by returning a “no-bill” in Watts’s case. 
 
The case&nbsp;has led to nationwide shock and outcry. It is being&nbsp;held as an example by experts in reproductive health and justice of how pregnant women can easily face criminal consequences, since the overturning of Roe v Wade.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-face-brutal-arctic-blast-temperatures-likely-to-drop-to-minus-30s-679285">US to face brutal Arctic blast, temperatures likely to drop to minus 30s</a>

In a statement on Thursday (Jan 11), reproductive justice advocacy group If/When/How's senior litigation counsel Yveka Pierra said, “This decision does not erase the harm that Brittany has experienced as the result of this case. Brittany should have been able to focus on taking care of herself after her pregnancy loss.” 
 
“Cases like Brittany’s show us that, depending on your identity, the state treats some losses as tragedies and other losses as crimes,” Pierra added.

<h2 lang="en-US">Watts suffered a miscarriage inside the toilet</h2>

As per reports, Watts had suffered a miscarriage in the toilet in September when she had completed only 22 weeks of her pregnancy. She then made efforts to remove the mass which had clogged the toilet and visited the hospital, where a nurse reportedly called the police. 
 
Earlier, Watts had visited the hospital and was showing signs that her water had broken prematurely. Such a condition makes it impossible to carry on with pregnancy and if the woman is not treated, she can slip into deadly sepsis. 
 
Ohio’s “abuse of a corpse” charge depends on whether a corpse was treated by someone in a way that would “outrage reasonable community sensibilities”. If Watts had been convicted of the fifth-degree felony, she would have been in prison for a year.

Watch:&nbsp;US: Donald Trump's New York Civil fraud trial wraps up, judge asks lawyers to 'control your client'

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Before the jury decided on Thursday, an open letter was sent by Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights to Trumbull County prosecutor Dennis Watkins, on Watts’s behalf. 
 
“By seeking to indict her, you are clearly implying that anyone who miscarries at any point in pregnancy in our state must retrieve the fetal tissue whether they are at home, at work, at school, at a restaurant or other public place and preserve it until the tissue can be disposed of properly even though Ohio law does not define what a proper disposal method would be nor require that this non-existent method be used,” wrote the group. 
 
“We have no doubt that women facing the threat of jail time and hefty fines will conceal the fact that they have miscarried and refuse to seek treatment,” they added.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The case filed against Brittany Watts – a woman from Ohio – who had suffered a miscarriage and was facing indictment for abuse of a corpse, will not be taken forward, decided the grand jury on Thursday (Jan 11).

The case filed against Brittany Watts – a woman from Ohio – who had suffered a miscarriage and was facing indictment for abuse of a corpse, will not be taken forward, decided the grand jury on Thursday (Jan 11). The grand jury of Trumbull County, Ohio, refused to indict Watts, against whom a case was filed by the police after she suffered a miscarriage in September. The judges cancelled the indictment by returning a “no-bill” in Watts’s case. The case has led to nationwide shock and outcry. It is being held as an example by experts in reproductive health and justice of how pregnant women can easily face criminal consequences, since the overturning of Roe v Wade. Also read: US to face brutal Arctic blast, temperatures likely to drop to minus 30s In a statement on Thursday (Jan 11), reproductive justice advocacy group If/When/How's senior litigation counsel Yveka Pierra said, “This decision does not erase the harm that Brittany has experienced as the result of this case. Brittany should have been able to focus on taking care of herself after her pregnancy loss.” “Cases like Brittany’s show us that, depending on your identity, the state treats some losses as tragedies and other losses as crimes,” Pierra added. Watts suffered a miscarriage inside the toilet As per reports, Watts had suffered a miscarriage in the toilet in September when she had completed only 22 weeks of her pregnancy. She then made efforts to remove the mass which had clogged the toilet and visited the hospital, where a nurse reportedly called the police. Earlier, Watts had visited the hospital and was showing signs that her water had broken prematurely. Such a condition makes it impossible to carry on with pregnancy and if the woman is not treated, she can slip into deadly sepsis. Ohio’s “abuse of a corpse” charge depends on whether a corpse was treated by someone in a way that would “outrage reasonable community sensibilities”. If Watts had been convicted of the fifth-degree felony, she would have been in prison for a year. Watch: US: Donald Trump's New York Civil fraud trial wraps up, judge asks lawyers to 'control your client' Before the jury decided on Thursday, an open letter was sent by Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights to Trumbull County prosecutor Dennis Watkins, on Watts’s behalf. “By seeking to indict her, you are clearly implying that anyone who miscarries at any point in pregnancy in our state must retrieve the fetal tissue whether they are at home, at work, at school, at a restaurant or other public place and preserve it until the tissue can be disposed of properly even though Ohio law does not define what a proper disposal method would be nor require that this non-existent method be used,” wrote the group. “We have no doubt that women facing the threat of jail time and hefty fines will conceal the fact that they have miscarried and refuse to seek treatment,” they added. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Jury decides not to indict Ohio woman for abuse of corpse after miscarriage

Peter Nygard, a former fashion mogul, has been found guilty of four counts of sexual assault. A Toronto jury on Sunday released the verdict after five women testified against Peter Nygard, 82, that he used a private bedroom suite in his company headquarters to assault them, reported AP.

Peter Nygard, a former fashion mogul, has been found guilty of four counts of sexual assault. A Toronto jury on Sunday released the verdict after five women testified against Peter Nygard, 82, that he used a private bedroom suite in his company headquarters to assault them, reported AP. After five days of deliberation, the court acquitted Nygard of one of five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement. During the six-week-long trial, the court heard graphic and emotional testimony from five women about assaults that occurred between the 1980s and mid-2000s. According to the prosecutors, Nygard met the women in social settings and invited them to his clothing empire headquarters in Toronto. He took the women on a tour, which ended in his bedroom suite with a bed, televisions and jacuzzi. The doors didn't have handles, and Nygard controlled the locks, added the prosecution. ALSO READ | US: A child killed, four injured after shooting at Texas flea market One of the women who testified against Nygard said she was only 16 years old when an older man she was dating took her to the headquarters, where Nygard sexually assaulted her. When she was leaving the premises, a woman handed her an emergency contraceptive pill. In another instance, a woman broke down during her testimony in court. She said she was worried about complaining against him because of his wealth and influence. However, Nygard denied all the allegations of sexual misconduct and assault. He told the court that he did not recall meeting four of the five women or any interaction with them decades ago. "My position is that I would not have conducted myself in that manner," Nygard told the court. Ana Serban, a Crown prosecutor, called Nygard's testimony "unreliable" during the closing arguments. Nygard's lawyer, Brian Greenspan, claimed that the statements given by the five women were not credible because of "fatal flaws and lack of testimonial trustworthiness." After the jury released the verdict on Sunday, Greenspan said he was considering appealing it. Besides the guilty verdict on Sunday, Nygard also faces criminal charges in other jurisdictions. He is facing sexual assault and forcible confinement charges in Quebec and Manitoba, with allegations dating back to the 1990s. Furthermore, he faces a lawsuit brought by 57 women, including 18 Canadians, in the United States. The case alleged that Nygard used violence, intimidation, bribery and company workers to entice victims and dodge blame for decades. However, Nygard has denied all allegations. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Fashion mogul Peter Nygard found guilty of four sexual assault charges by Canadian jury

Three men were acquitted by the jury on Friday (September 15) in the last trial related to the plan of kidnapping Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a plot which was seen as homegrown terrorism before the 2020 presidential election of the United States. 
 
The court did not find Eric Molitor, twin brothers William Null and Michael Null guilty of supporting a terrorist act and a weapon charge. The three were the last of the 14 men who were tried in state or federal court. The court has convicted nine others. 
 
The Nulls and Molitor were facing an accusation of supporting the leaders in the plan by taking part in military-style drills and travelling to visit the vacation home of Whitmer in northern Michigan. Different courts convicted the key players Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. of a kidnapping conspiracy last year.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-seeks-disqualification-of-obama-appointed-judge-from-election-subversion-case-635062">Trump seeks disqualification of Obama-appointed judge from election subversion case</a>

The jury in the latest trial heard 14 days of testimony in Antrim County, where the lakeside property of Whitmer is located, 185 miles (297 kilometres) north of the state Capitol. 
 
The authorities stated that the plan of attack Whitmer began to be sketched at a regional summit of anti-government extremists hosted by Dublin, a city in Ohio, in the summer of 2020. 
 
The summit was attended by Fox, Croft and William Null while an FBI informant was also present in the gathering and had secretly recorded profanity-laced screeds which threatened violence against public officials. 
 
The restrictions imposed by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic had also fueled the disgust, as per the text messages, social media posts and recordings submitted as evidence at trial.

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Why is impeaching Biden America's priority?

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<h2>Fox 'incredibly dumb' to pull off kidnapping: Molitor</h2>

Molitor and William Null testified in their own defence and agreed to have attended the gun drills and taken tours to check the property of Whitmer. 
 
However, William Null stated that he and his brother broke away when discussions turned towards acquiring explosives. Molitor said Fox was “incredibly dumb” and it was not possible for him to pull off a kidnapping. 
 
Assistant Attorney General William Rollstin appealed to jurors to not be swayed. 
 
“If you help in whole or even in part you’ve satisfied that element” of the crime, said Rollstin in his closing argument on Wednesday. “Was he helping him to plan? Was he helping him prepare? The answer is absolutely,” he added. 
 
After the kidnapping plan was thwarted, then-President Donald Trump was blamed by Whitmer, who said he had given “comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division.” After he was out of office, Trump stated that the kidnapping plan was a “fake deal” in 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for&nbsp;wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Three men were acquitted by the jury on Friday (September 15) in the last trial related to the plan of kidnapping Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a plot which was seen as homegrown terrorism before the 2020 presidential election of the United States.

Three men were acquitted by the jury on Friday (September 15) in the last trial related to the plan of kidnapping Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a plot which was seen as homegrown terrorism before the 2020 presidential election of the United States. The court did not find Eric Molitor, twin brothers William Null and Michael Null guilty of supporting a terrorist act and a weapon charge. The three were the last of the 14 men who were tried in state or federal court. The court has convicted nine others. The Nulls and Molitor were facing an accusation of supporting the leaders in the plan by taking part in military-style drills and travelling to visit the vacation home of Whitmer in northern Michigan. Different courts convicted the key players Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. of a kidnapping conspiracy last year. ALSO READ | Trump seeks disqualification of Obama-appointed judge from election subversion case The jury in the latest trial heard 14 days of testimony in Antrim County, where the lakeside property of Whitmer is located, 185 miles (297 kilometres) north of the state Capitol. The authorities stated that the plan of attack Whitmer began to be sketched at a regional summit of anti-government extremists hosted by Dublin, a city in Ohio, in the summer of 2020. The summit was attended by Fox, Croft and William Null while an FBI informant was also present in the gathering and had secretly recorded profanity-laced screeds which threatened violence against public officials. The restrictions imposed by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic had also fueled the disgust, as per the text messages, social media posts and recordings submitted as evidence at trial. WATCH | Gravitas: Why is impeaching Biden America's priority? Fox 'incredibly dumb' to pull off kidnapping: Molitor Molitor and William Null testified in their own defence and agreed to have attended the gun drills and taken tours to check the property of Whitmer. However, William Null stated that he and his brother broke away when discussions turned towards acquiring explosives. Molitor said Fox was “incredibly dumb” and it was not possible for him to pull off a kidnapping. Assistant Attorney General William Rollstin appealed to jurors to not be swayed. “If you help in whole or even in part you’ve satisfied that element” of the crime, said Rollstin in his closing argument on Wednesday. “Was he helping him to plan? Was he helping him prepare? The answer is absolutely,” he added. After the kidnapping plan was thwarted, then-President Donald Trump was blamed by Whitmer, who said he had given “comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division.” After he was out of office, Trump stated that the kidnapping plan was a “fake deal” in 2022. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Jury acquits three accused of plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

On Thursday, a court jury in South Florida ruled that McDonald's and its franchise holder were responsible for the second-degree burns that a little girl suffered after a flaming-hot&nbsp;Chicken McNugget fell on her thigh in 2019.&nbsp;

The jury decision was split as it found the&nbsp;franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food and McDonald's USA for providing proper instructions regarding the safe handling of the food. However,&nbsp;McDonald's USA was not found negligent and the jury dismissed the argument that the company's product was defective.&nbsp;

A second jury will now sit to determine how much McDonald's USA and the franchise owner owe to the child and her mother, according to The Associated Press.&nbsp;

“Our sympathies go out to this family for what occurred in this unfortunate incident, as we hold customer safety as one of our highest priorities,”&nbsp;McDonald’s owner-operator Brent Upchurch said in a statement.&nbsp;

“We are deeply disappointed with today’s verdict because the facts show that our restaurant in Tamarac, Florida did indeed follow those protocols when cooking and serving this Happy Meal.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mcdonalds-temporarily-shuts-us-offices-to-announce-layoffs-578446">WATCH |&nbsp;McDonald's temporarily shuts US offices, to announce layoffs</a>

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<h2>The 2019 incident&nbsp;</h2>

The incident transpired in August 2019 when&nbsp;Philana Holmes took her son and daughter to a&nbsp;Tamarac McDonald’s and bought the Happy Meals. However, she received no warning that the food might be scalding. After receiving the food from the drive-thru window, she passed it along to her daughter and son in the back seat and drove away.&nbsp;

Her daughter, identified in court as Olivia Caraballo, an autistic child who was four years old at the time, did not testify during the trial. However, according to&nbsp;Holmes' version, she did not realise at first why her daughter was screaming in the back. Upon pulling up into a nearby parking lot to help&nbsp;the child, she noticed the burn and&nbsp;took photos on her iPhone, which included audio clips of the child’s screams.

Both the photo and the audio were presented during the trial. The attorneys representing the fast-food giant, however, argued that food had to be hot to avoid&nbsp;salmonella poisoning. They added that&nbsp;nuggets were not meant to be pressed between a seat belt and human flesh for more than two minutes.

Though both sides agreed that the nugget was the cause of the burns, the family's lawyers argued that the temperature was above 93 Celsius while McDonald's said it was no more than 71 Celsius.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/finally-mcdonalds-in-chicago-introduces-indias-favourite-mcaloo-tikki-on-its-menu-netizens-share-joy-574316">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Finally! McDonald's in Chicago introduces India's favourite 'McAloo Tikki' on its menu, netizens share joy</a>

The case is reminiscent of the 1992&nbsp;Stella Liebeck case when she received $2.7 million in punitive damages after a McDonald's hot coffee spilled into her lap - burning her legs, groin and buttocks.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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On Thursday, a court jury in South Florida ruled that McDonald's and its franchise holder were responsible for the second-degree burns that a little girl suffered after a flaming-hot Chicken McNugget fell on her thigh in 2019.

On Thursday, a court jury in South Florida ruled that McDonald's and its franchise holder were responsible for the second-degree burns that a little girl suffered after a flaming-hot Chicken McNugget fell on her thigh in 2019. The jury decision was split as it found the franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food and McDonald's USA for providing proper instructions regarding the safe handling of the food. However, McDonald's USA was not found negligent and the jury dismissed the argument that the company's product was defective. A second jury will now sit to determine how much McDonald's USA and the franchise owner owe to the child and her mother, according to The Associated Press. “Our sympathies go out to this family for what occurred in this unfortunate incident, as we hold customer safety as one of our highest priorities,” McDonald’s owner-operator Brent Upchurch said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed with today’s verdict because the facts show that our restaurant in Tamarac, Florida did indeed follow those protocols when cooking and serving this Happy Meal.” WATCH | McDonald's temporarily shuts US offices, to announce layoffs × The 2019 incident The incident transpired in August 2019 when Philana Holmes took her son and daughter to a Tamarac McDonald’s and bought the Happy Meals. However, she received no warning that the food might be scalding. After receiving the food from the drive-thru window, she passed it along to her daughter and son in the back seat and drove away. Her daughter, identified in court as Olivia Caraballo, an autistic child who was four years old at the time, did not testify during the trial. However, according to Holmes' version, she did not realise at first why her daughter was screaming in the back. Upon pulling up into a nearby parking lot to help the child, she noticed the burn and took photos on her iPhone, which included audio clips of the child’s screams. Both the photo and the audio were presented during the trial. The attorneys representing the fast-food giant, however, argued that food had to be hot to avoid salmonella poisoning. They added that nuggets were not meant to be pressed between a seat belt and human flesh for more than two minutes. Though both sides agreed that the nugget was the cause of the burns, the family's lawyers argued that the temperature was above 93 Celsius while McDonald's said it was no more than 71 Celsius. ALSO READ | Finally! McDonald's in Chicago introduces India's favourite 'McAloo Tikki' on its menu, netizens share joy The case is reminiscent of the 1992 Stella Liebeck case when she received $2.7 million in punitive damages after a McDonald's hot coffee spilled into her lap - burning her legs, groin and buttocks. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

McDonald's found liable for scalding Chicken McNugget that burned girl, rules jury

The Venice Film Festival is about to kick off and this year the event has a stellar lineup of celebrities and films. Oscar winning actress Julianne Moore take on her latest role as president of the jury.

Venice Film Festival 2022: Julianne Moore prepares for jury duty

Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon who owned now shut pro-democracy publication Apple Daily will face a no-jury court. This is the latest deviation from city's 177-year-old tradition of jury-trial. Lai is under arrest China's controversial national security law. Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Paul Lam has ordered that Jimmy Lai's trial will be heard three judges handpicked by the government.

AFP reported that the copy of the order cited, "involvement of foreign elements" in the case, the "personal safety of jurors and their family members" and the "risk of perverting the course of justice if the trial is conducted with a jury".

So far authorities have rejected jury trials for all three major cases that have made it to the High Court, where defendants can face up to life in prison. Lai, 74, is one of Hong Kong's best-known democracy activists and is openly loathed by Beijing.

Lai's Apple Daily newspaper had been very vocal in its criticism of China's Communist Party. The newspaper openly supported democracy. The tabloid shut down last year when China froze its funds. Many of the senior staff of the newspaper &nbsp;were charged with "collusion with foreign forces", one of the new national security crimes.

On Monday, prosecutor Anthony Chau informed the court that six Apple Daily executives have indicated that they plan to plead guilty. 
A guilty plea usually entitles defendants to a sentence reduction.&nbsp;

Lai, who is currently serving a protest-related sentence, plans to plead not guilty, meaning a full trial is expected towards the end of the year or early next year, the court heard.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon who owned now shut pro-democracy publication Apple Daily will face a no-jury court. This is the latest deviation from city's 177-year-old tradition of jury-trial.

Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon who owned now shut pro-democracy publication Apple Daily will face a no-jury court. This is the latest deviation from city's 177-year-old tradition of jury-trial. Lai is under arrest China's controversial national security law. Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Paul Lam has ordered that Jimmy Lai's trial will be heard three judges handpicked by the government. AFP reported that the copy of the order cited, "involvement of foreign elements" in the case, the "personal safety of jurors and their family members" and the "risk of perverting the course of justice if the trial is conducted with a jury". So far authorities have rejected jury trials for all three major cases that have made it to the High Court, where defendants can face up to life in prison. Lai, 74, is one of Hong Kong's best-known democracy activists and is openly loathed by Beijing. Lai's Apple Daily newspaper had been very vocal in its criticism of China's Communist Party. The newspaper openly supported democracy. The tabloid shut down last year when China froze its funds. Many of the senior staff of the newspaper were charged with "collusion with foreign forces", one of the new national security crimes. On Monday, prosecutor Anthony Chau informed the court that six Apple Daily executives have indicated that they plan to plead guilty. A guilty plea usually entitles defendants to a sentence reduction. Lai, who is currently serving a protest-related sentence, plans to plead not guilty, meaning a full trial is expected towards the end of the year or early next year, the court heard. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Hong Kong's pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to be tried without jury

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong will plead guilty in the city’s largest national security case, after being detained for more than a year without a trial date under the China-drafted law.

Hong Kong national security trial to proceed without jury

Comedian Bill Cosby denied a California woman`s claim that he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in the mid-1970s in a recorded deposition shown on Wednesday to a jury considering one of the last legal cases against him. 
 
Judy Huth, who is seeking unspecified damages in a civil lawsuit she filed in 2014, has testified that Cosby forced her to perform a sex act at the mansion when she was a teenager. 
 
On Wednesday, jurors were shown a roughly 10-minute video that showed clips of Cosby answering questions from one of Huth`s attorneys during a deposition in 2015. 
 
Cosby answered "no" to questions about whether he tried to put his hands down Huth`s pants and then took her hand and used it to masturbate, as she alleges. 
 
He acknowledged that he would bring guests to the mansion but said he does not remember Huth or the friend who said she accompanied her that night.&nbsp;"I don`t know Ms. Huth," he said. 
 
Asked if Huth`s account could have been accurate but Cosby had forgotten the incident, he said that was not possible because "this young lady is saying that she told me she was 15." 
 
Cosby, now 84, said he never pursued sexual contact with anyone he knew was under 18. He is not expected to attend the trial in person. 
 
In cross-examination of Huth, Cosby attorney Jennifer Bonjean challenged her account, including her revised timeline. 
 
When the lawsuit was filed in December 2014, Huth said the incident occurred in 1974, when she was 15. She testified this week that she recently concluded that she had been mistaken about the year and now believes it happened in 1975. 
 
Bonjean pressed Huth on Wednesday about past traumas in her life and antidepressant use, suggesting any emotional distress she suffered was unrelated to her time with Cosby. 
 
Huth, now 64, testified that she was abused by a former partner and was a passenger in a car accident that left five people in another vehicle dead. 
 
But she said her interaction with Cosby had the most impact. "Nothing as bad as that, that`s for sure," Huth said. 
The civil trial in California is taking place 11 months after Cosby was freed from prison when Pennsylvania`s highest court threw out his sexual assault conviction in a different case. 
 
Cosby is best known for his role as the lovable husband and father in the 1980s television comedy series "The Cosby Show," earning him the nickname 'America's Dad.' 
 
But his family-friendly reputation was shattered after more than 50 women accused him of sexual assaults over nearly five decades.

Comedian Bill Cosby denied a California woman`s claim that he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in the mid-1970s in a recorded deposition shown on Wednesday to a jury considering one of the last legal cases against him.

Comedian Bill Cosby denied a California woman`s claim that he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in the mid-1970s in a recorded deposition shown on Wednesday to a jury considering one of the last legal cases against him. Judy Huth, who is seeking unspecified damages in a civil lawsuit she filed in 2014, has testified that Cosby forced her to perform a sex act at the mansion when she was a teenager. On Wednesday, jurors were shown a roughly 10-minute video that showed clips of Cosby answering questions from one of Huth`s attorneys during a deposition in 2015. Cosby answered "no" to questions about whether he tried to put his hands down Huth`s pants and then took her hand and used it to masturbate, as she alleges. He acknowledged that he would bring guests to the mansion but said he does not remember Huth or the friend who said she accompanied her that night. "I don`t know Ms. Huth," he said. Asked if Huth`s account could have been accurate but Cosby had forgotten the incident, he said that was not possible because "this young lady is saying that she told me she was 15." Cosby, now 84, said he never pursued sexual contact with anyone he knew was under 18. He is not expected to attend the trial in person. In cross-examination of Huth, Cosby attorney Jennifer Bonjean challenged her account, including her revised timeline. When the lawsuit was filed in December 2014, Huth said the incident occurred in 1974, when she was 15. She testified this week that she recently concluded that she had been mistaken about the year and now believes it happened in 1975. Bonjean pressed Huth on Wednesday about past traumas in her life and antidepressant use, suggesting any emotional distress she suffered was unrelated to her time with Cosby. Huth, now 64, testified that she was abused by a former partner and was a passenger in a car accident that left five people in another vehicle dead. But she said her interaction with Cosby had the most impact. "Nothing as bad as that, that`s for sure," Huth said. The civil trial in California is taking place 11 months after Cosby was freed from prison when Pennsylvania`s highest court threw out his sexual assault conviction in a different case. Cosby is best known for his role as the lovable husband and father in the 1980s television comedy series "The Cosby Show," earning him the nickname 'America's Dad.' But his family-friendly reputation was shattered after more than 50 women accused him of sexual assaults over nearly five decades.

Jurors shown video of Cosby denying Playboy Mansion assault claim

The jury in the bitter defamation trial between "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard concluded deliberations for the day on Tuesday without reaching a verdict.

The seven-person jury will resume their deliberations on Wednesday morning in Fairfax County Circuit Court, near the US capital. 
The panel met for seven hours on Tuesday and two hours on Friday.

Closing arguments in the high-profile case were held on Friday at the end of a six-week trial featuring claims and counterclaims of domestic abuse.

The 58-year-old Depp flew to England over the Memorial Day weekend and made surprise appearances at concerts by Jeff Beck in Sheffield on Sunday and at Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday.

Watch | Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp: Civil trial of the century?

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Depp, a guitarist, has his own band, the Hollywood Vampires, with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry of Aerosmith.

Depp filed suit against Heard over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018 in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse."

The Texas-born Heard, who had a starring role in "Aquaman," did not name Depp in the piece, but he sued her for implying he was a domestic abuser and is seeking $50 million in damages.

The 36-year-old Heard countersued for $100 million, claiming that she suffered "rampant physical violence and abuse" at his hands.

Dozens of witnesses testified during the trial, including Depp's bodyguards, Hollywood executives, agents, entertainment industry experts, doctors, friends and relatives.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/johnny-depp-awaiting-verdict-appears-at-londons-royal-albert-hall-483663">Johnny Depp, awaiting verdict, appears at London's Royal Albert Hall</a>

Depp and Heard each spent days on the witness stand during the televised trial, which was attended by hundreds of fans of the "Pirates" star and accompanied by a #JusticeForJohnnyDepp campaign on social media.

'Monster'

Video and audio recordings of heated, profanity-laced arguments between the couple were played for the jury, which was also shown photographs of injuries allegedly suffered by Heard during their volatile relationship.

Hours of testimony were devoted to a grisly finger injury that Depp suffered while filming an installment of "Pirates" in Australia in March 2015.

Depp claimed the tip of a finger was severed when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him. Heard said she did not know how the injury occurred.

Both agreed that Depp went on to scrawl messages on walls, lampshades and mirrors using the bloody digit.

Heard said Depp would become a physically and sexually abusive "monster" during alcohol- and drug-fueled binges and resisted her repeated efforts to curb his drinking and drug use.

Depp testified that it was Heard who was frequently violent and said it has been "brutal" to listen to "outlandish" accusations of domestic abuse made against him.

"No human being is perfect, certainly not, none of us, but I have never in my life committed sexual battery, physical abuse," he said.

Heard, who was married to Depp from 2015 to 2017, obtained a restraining order against him in May 2016, citing domestic violence.

Depp, a three-time Oscar nominee, filed a libel suit in London against the British tabloid The Sun for calling him a "wife-beater." He lost that case in November 2020.

Both sides have claimed damage to their Hollywood careers.

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The jury in the bitter defamation trial between "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard concluded deliberations for the day on Tuesday without reaching a verdict.

The jury in the bitter defamation trial between "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard concluded deliberations for the day on Tuesday without reaching a verdict. The seven-person jury will resume their deliberations on Wednesday morning in Fairfax County Circuit Court, near the US capital. The panel met for seven hours on Tuesday and two hours on Friday. Closing arguments in the high-profile case were held on Friday at the end of a six-week trial featuring claims and counterclaims of domestic abuse. The 58-year-old Depp flew to England over the Memorial Day weekend and made surprise appearances at concerts by Jeff Beck in Sheffield on Sunday and at Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday. Watch | Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp: Civil trial of the century? × Depp, a guitarist, has his own band, the Hollywood Vampires, with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. Depp filed suit against Heard over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018 in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." The Texas-born Heard, who had a starring role in "Aquaman," did not name Depp in the piece, but he sued her for implying he was a domestic abuser and is seeking $50 million in damages. The 36-year-old Heard countersued for $100 million, claiming that she suffered "rampant physical violence and abuse" at his hands. Dozens of witnesses testified during the trial, including Depp's bodyguards, Hollywood executives, agents, entertainment industry experts, doctors, friends and relatives. Also Read | Johnny Depp, awaiting verdict, appears at London's Royal Albert Hall Depp and Heard each spent days on the witness stand during the televised trial, which was attended by hundreds of fans of the "Pirates" star and accompanied by a #JusticeForJohnnyDepp campaign on social media. 'Monster' Video and audio recordings of heated, profanity-laced arguments between the couple were played for the jury, which was also shown photographs of injuries allegedly suffered by Heard during their volatile relationship. Hours of testimony were devoted to a grisly finger injury that Depp suffered while filming an installment of "Pirates" in Australia in March 2015. Depp claimed the tip of a finger was severed when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him. Heard said she did not know how the injury occurred. Both agreed that Depp went on to scrawl messages on walls, lampshades and mirrors using the bloody digit. Heard said Depp would become a physically and sexually abusive "monster" during alcohol- and drug-fueled binges and resisted her repeated efforts to curb his drinking and drug use. Depp testified that it was Heard who was frequently violent and said it has been "brutal" to listen to "outlandish" accusations of domestic abuse made against him. "No human being is perfect, certainly not, none of us, but I have never in my life committed sexual battery, physical abuse," he said. Heard, who was married to Depp from 2015 to 2017, obtained a restraining order against him in May 2016, citing domestic violence. Depp, a three-time Oscar nominee, filed a libel suit in London against the British tabloid The Sun for calling him a "wife-beater." He lost that case in November 2020. Both sides have claimed damage to their Hollywood careers. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Jury ends deliberations for the day in Depp vs Heard trial

Britain's Prince Andrew has asked for a US jury trial even as he continues to deny that he committed sexual assault on Virginia Giuffre over two decades ago.

Prince Andrew asks for a US jury trial even as he continues to deny sexual assault allegations

After a three-month trial, a jury has found fallen Silicon Valley star Elizabeth Holmes guilty of fraud. &nbsp;

Former Theranos CEO has been accused of turning her blood-testing startup into a sophisticated sham. She has allegedly duped billionaires and other unwitting investors into backing a seemingly revolutionary company, whose technology never worked as promised. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-act-decisively-if-russia-invades-says-biden-in-phone-call-with-ukraine-president-442093" hreflang="en">US will act ‘decisively’ if Russia invades, says Biden in phone call with Ukraine President</a>

Holmes has been found guilty on two counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The decision was taken after seven days of deliberation. The trial of the 37-year-old woman featured dozens of witnesses, including Holmes herself and many exhibits. &nbsp;

The guilty now faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-joint-statement-unsc-permanent-members-call-to-avoid-nuke-war-arms-spread-442087" hreflang="en">In joint statement, UNSC permanent members call to avoid nuke war, arms’ spread</a>

The jury seems to have deadlocked on the three remaining charges. The split verdicts are "a mixed bag for the prosecution, but it's a loss for Elizabeth Holmes because she is going away to prison for at least a few years," said David Ring, a lawyer following the Holmes case closely. &nbsp;

In the trial, the federal prosecutors provided testimony and evidence to show Holmes was a charlatan, who was obsessed with fame and fortune. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After a three-month trial, a jury has found fallen Silicon Valley star Elizabeth Holmes guilty of fraud. Former Theranos CEO has been accused of turning her blood-testing startup into a sophisticated sham.

After a three-month trial, a jury has found fallen Silicon Valley star Elizabeth Holmes guilty of fraud. Former Theranos CEO has been accused of turning her blood-testing startup into a sophisticated sham. She has allegedly duped billionaires and other unwitting investors into backing a seemingly revolutionary company, whose technology never worked as promised. Also Read: US will act ‘decisively’ if Russia invades, says Biden in phone call with Ukraine President Holmes has been found guilty on two counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud on Monday. The decision was taken after seven days of deliberation. The trial of the 37-year-old woman featured dozens of witnesses, including Holmes herself and many exhibits. The guilty now faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. Also Read: In joint statement, UNSC permanent members call to avoid nuke war, arms’ spread The jury seems to have deadlocked on the three remaining charges. The split verdicts are "a mixed bag for the prosecution, but it's a loss for Elizabeth Holmes because she is going away to prison for at least a few years," said David Ring, a lawyer following the Holmes case closely. In the trial, the federal prosecutors provided testimony and evidence to show Holmes was a charlatan, who was obsessed with fame and fortune. (With inputs from agencies)

After a three-month trial, jury finds ex-Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes guilty of fraud

A jury ordered Tesla to pay $137 million to Owen Diaz, a Black former employee who accused the carmaker of ignoring racial abuse he faced while working there, his lawyer, Lawrence Organ, said late Monday.

"It’s a great thing when one of the richest corporations in America has to have a reckoning of the abhorrent conditions at its factory for Black people," Organ, of the California Civil Rights Law Group, said in an interview.

The decision by the jury, in federal court in San Francisco, was reported earlier by Bloomberg News. Tesla’s lawyers did not immediately provide comment.

In an interview, Diaz said he was relieved by the jury’s decision.

"It took four long years to get to this point," he said Monday evening. "It’s like a big weight has been pulled off my shoulders."

Diaz said he worked as an elevator operator at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, for about a year in 2015 and 2016. There, he said, a supervisor and other colleagues repeatedly referred to him using racial slurs. He also said employees had drawn swastikas and scratched a racial epithet in a bathroom stall and left drawings of derogatory caricatures of Black children around the factory. Despite repeated complaints, the company did little to address the behavior, he said.

"It’s not like they were removing the offensive behavior, they would just let people keep adding and adding," he said.

After deliberating for about four hours, the jury agreed with Diaz’s assertion that Tesla had created a hostile work environment by failing to address the racism he faced, Organ said. The vast majority of the award — $130 million — was punitive damages for the company. The rest was for emotional distress Diaz suffered, Organ said.

Despite the abuse he himself faced, Diaz said, he reached a breaking point when he witnessed similar racist epithets directed at his son, Demetric, who secured a job — his first — at the company with Diaz’s help.

"My son watched his father being broken in front of him," Owen Diaz said.

In an internal email to Tesla staff obtained by Organ and shared with the Times, Valerie Capers Workman, a human resources executive, downplayed the allegations in the lawsuit.

"In addition to Mr. Diaz, three other witnesses (all non-Tesla contract employees) testified at trial that they regularly heard racial slurs (including the N-word) on the Fremont factory floor," she wrote. "While they all agreed that the use of the N-word was not appropriate in the workplace, they also agreed that most of the time they thought the language was used in a ‘friendly’ manner and usually by African-American colleagues."

The company, she wrote in the email, was responsive to Diaz’s complaints, firing two contractors and suspending another. Tesla does not believe the facts justify the verdict, she wrote, but acknowledges that the company was "not perfect" in 2015 and 2016. "We’re still not perfect," she added. "But we have come a long way."

Owen Diaz said in the suit that he was left feeling "demeaned, disrespected and devalued." He sued Tesla alongside his son and another Black former employee, but only the elder Diaz’s claims made it to trial.

It was not immediately clear whether Tesla planned to appeal the decision.

A jury ordered Tesla to pay $137 million to Owen Diaz, a Black former employee who accused the carmaker of ignoring racial abuse he faced while working there, his lawyer, Lawrence Organ, said late Monday.

A jury ordered Tesla to pay $137 million to Owen Diaz, a Black former employee who accused the carmaker of ignoring racial abuse he faced while working there, his lawyer, Lawrence Organ, said late Monday. "It’s a great thing when one of the richest corporations in America has to have a reckoning of the abhorrent conditions at its factory for Black people," Organ, of the California Civil Rights Law Group, said in an interview. The decision by the jury, in federal court in San Francisco, was reported earlier by Bloomberg News. Tesla’s lawyers did not immediately provide comment. In an interview, Diaz said he was relieved by the jury’s decision. "It took four long years to get to this point," he said Monday evening. "It’s like a big weight has been pulled off my shoulders." Diaz said he worked as an elevator operator at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, for about a year in 2015 and 2016. There, he said, a supervisor and other colleagues repeatedly referred to him using racial slurs. He also said employees had drawn swastikas and scratched a racial epithet in a bathroom stall and left drawings of derogatory caricatures of Black children around the factory. Despite repeated complaints, the company did little to address the behavior, he said. "It’s not like they were removing the offensive behavior, they would just let people keep adding and adding," he said. After deliberating for about four hours, the jury agreed with Diaz’s assertion that Tesla had created a hostile work environment by failing to address the racism he faced, Organ said. The vast majority of the award — $130 million — was punitive damages for the company. The rest was for emotional distress Diaz suffered, Organ said. Despite the abuse he himself faced, Diaz said, he reached a breaking point when he witnessed similar racist epithets directed at his son, Demetric, who secured a job — his first — at the company with Diaz’s help. "My son watched his father being broken in front of him," Owen Diaz said. In an internal email to Tesla staff obtained by Organ and shared with the Times, Valerie Capers Workman, a human resources executive, downplayed the allegations in the lawsuit. "In addition to Mr. Diaz, three other witnesses (all non-Tesla contract employees) testified at trial that they regularly heard racial slurs (including the N-word) on the Fremont factory floor," she wrote. "While they all agreed that the use of the N-word was not appropriate in the workplace, they also agreed that most of the time they thought the language was used in a ‘friendly’ manner and usually by African-American colleagues." The company, she wrote in the email, was responsive to Diaz’s complaints, firing two contractors and suspending another. Tesla does not believe the facts justify the verdict, she wrote, but acknowledges that the company was "not perfect" in 2015 and 2016. "We’re still not perfect," she added. "But we have come a long way." Owen Diaz said in the suit that he was left feeling "demeaned, disrespected and devalued." He sued Tesla alongside his son and another Black former employee, but only the elder Diaz’s claims made it to trial. It was not immediately clear whether Tesla planned to appeal the decision.

Jury orders Tesla to pay $137 million over racist treatment

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal upheld on Tuesday a court decision to deny a trial by jury to the first person charged under a new national security law, a landmark decision that marks a departure from the global financial hub's common law tradition. 
 
Last month, the Court of First Instance in the High Court ruled that Tong Ying-kit would face a trial without jury, citing 'a perceived risk of the personal safety of jurors and their family members'. His lawyer appealed. 
 
"Although jury trial is the conventional mode of trial in the Court of First Instance, it should not be assumed to be the only means of achieving fairness in the criminal process," according to a summary of the decision by judges Jeremy Poon, Wally Yeung and Johnson Lam. 
 
"When personal safety of jurors and their family members is under threat and due administration of justice might be impaired, there is a real risk that the goal of a fair trial by jury will be put in peril." 
 
Police say Tong carried a sign reading 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times' and drove his motorbike into officers during a protest on July 1, knocking several down on a narrow street before falling over and getting arrested. 
 
It was the first day on which the security law that Beijing imposed on the city, targeting what China deems as secession, separatism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, was in force. Tong, 24, was charged with inciting separatism and terrorism. 
 
In February, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng informed the defendant's legal team his trial would be heard by three judges appointed for national security cases instead of a jury, citing risks to jurors' safety. 
 
Tong then filed for a judicial review of the decision, which High Court Judge Alex Lee in the Court of First Instance rejected. 
 
Hong Kong's Judiciary describes trial by jury as one of the most important features of the city's legal system, a common law tradition designed to offer defendants additional protection against the possibility of authorities overreaching their power. 
 
Article 46 of the new law, drafted by Beijing, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party and conviction rates are close to 100%, states three instances in which juries can be scrapped: protecting state secrets, cases involving foreign forces and protecting jurors' safety. 
 
Tong has also been denied bail. Hong Kong's common law has traditionally allowed defendants to seek release unless prosecutors can show lawful grounds for their detention. 
 
In another departure from common law practices, the burden is now placed on the defendant to prove they will not break the law if released on bail. 
 
The trial is due to start on Wednesday. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal upheld on Tuesday a court decision to deny a trial by jury to the first person charged under a new national security law, a landmark decision that marks a departure from the global financial hub's common law tradition.

Hong Kong's Court of Appeal upheld on Tuesday a court decision to deny a trial by jury to the first person charged under a new national security law, a landmark decision that marks a departure from the global financial hub's common law tradition. Last month, the Court of First Instance in the High Court ruled that Tong Ying-kit would face a trial without jury, citing 'a perceived risk of the personal safety of jurors and their family members'. His lawyer appealed. "Although jury trial is the conventional mode of trial in the Court of First Instance, it should not be assumed to be the only means of achieving fairness in the criminal process," according to a summary of the decision by judges Jeremy Poon, Wally Yeung and Johnson Lam. "When personal safety of jurors and their family members is under threat and due administration of justice might be impaired, there is a real risk that the goal of a fair trial by jury will be put in peril." Police say Tong carried a sign reading 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times' and drove his motorbike into officers during a protest on July 1, knocking several down on a narrow street before falling over and getting arrested. It was the first day on which the security law that Beijing imposed on the city, targeting what China deems as secession, separatism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, was in force. Tong, 24, was charged with inciting separatism and terrorism. In February, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng informed the defendant's legal team his trial would be heard by three judges appointed for national security cases instead of a jury, citing risks to jurors' safety. Tong then filed for a judicial review of the decision, which High Court Judge Alex Lee in the Court of First Instance rejected. Hong Kong's Judiciary describes trial by jury as one of the most important features of the city's legal system, a common law tradition designed to offer defendants additional protection against the possibility of authorities overreaching their power. Article 46 of the new law, drafted by Beijing, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party and conviction rates are close to 100%, states three instances in which juries can be scrapped: protecting state secrets, cases involving foreign forces and protecting jurors' safety. Tong has also been denied bail. Hong Kong's common law has traditionally allowed defendants to seek release unless prosecutors can show lawful grounds for their detention. In another departure from common law practices, the burden is now placed on the defendant to prove they will not break the law if released on bail. The trial is due to start on Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong court upholds decision to have no jury at first national security trial

A jury will gather on Monday to hear whether the deadly arrest of George Floyd, which ignited a global protest movement 10 months ago, amounts to murder as opening arguments commence in the trial of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin.&nbsp;

Over two weeks of jury selection, many jurors told Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill and the lawyers on each side that they recognised the scrutiny their deliberations would come under, not least by those&nbsp;who view the trial as a reckoning for how Black people are policed in the United States.&nbsp;

"It's been a long time coming," a gospel choir sang on Sunday evening at a prayer service attended by Floyd's relatives. "But I know a change is gonna come."&nbsp;

The service was held in a church a few blocks east of where Chauvin, who was white, was caught on a bystander's video, with his knee on the neck of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man.&nbsp;

Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, said before the service began that he had faith that prosecutors from the Minnesota attorney general's office would see Chauvin convicted.&nbsp;

"The video is the proof," he said.&nbsp;

Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, with his lawyers arguing that he followed his training and that the main cause of Floyd's death, which the county examiner ruled a homicide, was a drug overdose. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge.&nbsp;

Jurors will head to a courtroom in a tower in downtown Minneapolis ringed with concrete barriers, barbed wire and soldiers from the state's National Guard. For blocks around, businesses are closed and windows boarded up, fearing a repeat of the arson and other property damage that occurred after Floyd's death.&nbsp;

Less than three miles away, residents maintain a vigil at the intersection where Chauvin kept his knee on a handcuffed Floyd's neck for about nine minutes as Floyd uses his final breaths to plead for his life. Chauvin and three other officers were arresting Floyd on suspicion of passing a fake $20 bill at the Cup Foods grocery store nearby.&nbsp;

Four sets of barricades block police from coming to the intersection, now called George Floyd Square, which is filled with flowers, posters, murals and other tributes to Floyd.&nbsp;

The jury, including three alternates, is made up of six white women, three white men, three Black men, one Black woman and two multiracial women, according to court records.&nbsp;

"I'm thankful that it is a diverse jury," Paris Stevens, a cousin of Floyd, who works as a nurse in North Carolina, said in a telephone interview. "I'm very anxious because you don't know what's going to happen, but I'm just glad that this process is starting."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A jury will gather on Monday to hear whether the deadly arrest of George Floyd, which ignited a global protest movement 10 months ago, amounts to murder as opening arguments commence in the trial of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin.

A jury will gather on Monday to hear whether the deadly arrest of George Floyd, which ignited a global protest movement 10 months ago, amounts to murder as opening arguments commence in the trial of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin. Over two weeks of jury selection, many jurors told Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill and the lawyers on each side that they recognised the scrutiny their deliberations would come under, not least by those who view the trial as a reckoning for how Black people are policed in the United States. "It's been a long time coming," a gospel choir sang on Sunday evening at a prayer service attended by Floyd's relatives. "But I know a change is gonna come." The service was held in a church a few blocks east of where Chauvin, who was white, was caught on a bystander's video, with his knee on the neck of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man. Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, said before the service began that he had faith that prosecutors from the Minnesota attorney general's office would see Chauvin convicted. "The video is the proof," he said. Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, with his lawyers arguing that he followed his training and that the main cause of Floyd's death, which the county examiner ruled a homicide, was a drug overdose. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge. Jurors will head to a courtroom in a tower in downtown Minneapolis ringed with concrete barriers, barbed wire and soldiers from the state's National Guard. For blocks around, businesses are closed and windows boarded up, fearing a repeat of the arson and other property damage that occurred after Floyd's death. Less than three miles away, residents maintain a vigil at the intersection where Chauvin kept his knee on a handcuffed Floyd's neck for about nine minutes as Floyd uses his final breaths to plead for his life. Chauvin and three other officers were arresting Floyd on suspicion of passing a fake $20 bill at the Cup Foods grocery store nearby. Four sets of barricades block police from coming to the intersection, now called George Floyd Square, which is filled with flowers, posters, murals and other tributes to Floyd. The jury, including three alternates, is made up of six white women, three white men, three Black men, one Black woman and two multiracial women, according to court records. "I'm thankful that it is a diverse jury," Paris Stevens, a cousin of Floyd, who works as a nurse in North Carolina, said in a telephone interview. "I'm very anxious because you don't know what's going to happen, but I'm just glad that this process is starting." (With inputs from agencies)

George Floyd's death: Jury to hear opening arguments in Derek Chauvin trial  

John Hinckley Jr., who wounded former US president Ronald Reagan and three other people in a 1981 assassination attempt, should be freed after 35 years and released to live with his mother, a federal judge ruled yesterday. 
 
US district judge Paul Friedman said Hinckley no longer posed a danger to himself or others and could be released from a government psychiatric hospital in Washington. 
 
Hinckley, 61, &quot;is permitted to reside full-time in Williamsburg, Virginia, on convalescent leave, which shall begin no sooner than Aug. 5, 2016,&quot; Friedman said in a 14-page order. His mother lives in Williamsburg, about 210 kilometre south of Washington. 
 
The order includes a requirement that Hinckley meet with his psychiatrist in Washington at least once a month and notify the Secret Service when he travels for the appointment. 
 
A jury found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity for the attack on Reagan, which also badly wounded presidential press secretary James Brady. Hinckley carried out the attack in a bid to impress actress Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed. 
 
(AFP)

Hinckley will live with his mother after his release in August and be required to meet with his psychiatrist at least once a month

John Hinckley Jr., who wounded former US president Ronald Reagan and three other people in a 1981 assassination attempt, should be freed after 35 years and released to live with his mother, a federal judge ruled yesterday. US district judge Paul Friedman said Hinckley no longer posed a danger to himself or others and could be released from a government psychiatric hospital in Washington. Hinckley, 61, "is permitted to reside full-time in Williamsburg, Virginia, on convalescent leave, which shall begin no sooner than Aug. 5, 2016," Friedman said in a 14-page order. His mother lives in Williamsburg, about 210 kilometre south of Washington. The order includes a requirement that Hinckley meet with his psychiatrist in Washington at least once a month and notify the Secret Service when he travels for the appointment. A jury found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity for the attack on Reagan, which also badly wounded presidential press secretary James Brady. Hinckley carried out the attack in a bid to impress actress Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed. (AFP)

Judge orders former US president Reagan's attacker to be released

Actor Michael Jace, best known for his role as a policeman on the TV drama &quot;The Shield,&quot; was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife in 2014 in front of the couple&#39;s two children at their Los Angeles home. 
 
Jace, 53, faces a sentence of 40 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on June 10. 
 
The actor was upset that his wife, April Jace, wanted a divorce when he shot her once in the back and twice more in the legs on May 19, 2014, the Los Angeles County District Attorney`s Office said in a statement. 
 
He then called authorities and reported that he had shot his wife, prosecutors said. The couple`s sons, ages 8 and 5 at the time, watched the killing in the family`s South Los Angeles home, prosecutors said. She was 40 years old when she was slain. 
 
Prosecutors had asked jurors to find Jace guilty of first-degree murder, which involves premeditation, Los Angeles County District Attorney`s Office spokesman Greg Risling said. But the jury in Los Angeles Superior Court instead found Jace guilty of second-degree murder, an intentional killing that was not premeditated.&nbsp; 
 
Jace`s attorneys acknowledged in court that he shot his wife.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Our entire goal was to show this was not a case of premeditation, and we achieved that goal,&quot; Jace`s attorney, Jamon Hicks, said in an email. &quot;This was a very smart and intelligent jury who deliberated and considered the evidence. They were not just moved by emotion but by the evidence.&quot; 
 
The jury of six women and six men began deliberations late on Friday and resumed on Tuesday morning, spending two hours considering the case before reaching the verdict, prosecutors said.&nbsp; 
 
The jury found Jace used a handgun in the crime, a special circumstance that increases his minimum prison time by 25 years beyond the minimum term for second-degree murder, Risling said. 
 
Jace is best known for portraying police officer Julien Lowe, a religious Christian conflicted about his homosexuality, on the FX cable drama &quot;The Shield&quot; that ran from 2002 to 2008. 
 
Aside from &quot;The Shield,&quot; Jace had small parts in the films &quot;Forrest Gump,&quot; &quot;Boogie Nights&quot; and &quot;Planet of the Apes&quot; as well as various supporting roles on television in the past two decades. He filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in 2011.

Actor Michael Jace, best known for his role as a policeman on the TV drama "The Shield," was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife in 2014 in front of the couple`s two children at their Los Angeles home.

Actor Michael Jace, best known for his role as a policeman on the TV drama "The Shield," was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife in 2014 in front of the couple's two children at their Los Angeles home. Jace, 53, faces a sentence of 40 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on June 10. The actor was upset that his wife, April Jace, wanted a divorce when he shot her once in the back and twice more in the legs on May 19, 2014, the Los Angeles County District Attorney`s Office said in a statement. He then called authorities and reported that he had shot his wife, prosecutors said. The couple`s sons, ages 8 and 5 at the time, watched the killing in the family`s South Los Angeles home, prosecutors said. She was 40 years old when she was slain. Prosecutors had asked jurors to find Jace guilty of first-degree murder, which involves premeditation, Los Angeles County District Attorney`s Office spokesman Greg Risling said. But the jury in Los Angeles Superior Court instead found Jace guilty of second-degree murder, an intentional killing that was not premeditated. Jace`s attorneys acknowledged in court that he shot his wife. "Our entire goal was to show this was not a case of premeditation, and we achieved that goal," Jace`s attorney, Jamon Hicks, said in an email. "This was a very smart and intelligent jury who deliberated and considered the evidence. They were not just moved by emotion but by the evidence." The jury of six women and six men began deliberations late on Friday and resumed on Tuesday morning, spending two hours considering the case before reaching the verdict, prosecutors said. The jury found Jace used a handgun in the crime, a special circumstance that increases his minimum prison time by 25 years beyond the minimum term for second-degree murder, Risling said. Jace is best known for portraying police officer Julien Lowe, a religious Christian conflicted about his homosexuality, on the FX cable drama "The Shield" that ran from 2002 to 2008. Aside from "The Shield," Jace had small parts in the films "Forrest Gump," "Boogie Nights" and "Planet of the Apes" as well as various supporting roles on television in the past two decades. He filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in 2011.

Actor Michael Jace of TV''s ''The Shield'' convicted of murdering wife

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