Christians abused by neighbour; JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SHOCKED.Byline: KIM CARMICHAEL ANGRY Dietrich Beatty mistook his Christian neighbours for devil worshippers - so he smashed up their car. Beatty had been drinking when he visited the home of pensioner PENSIONER. One who is supported by an allowance at the will of another. It is more usually applied to him who receives an annuity or pension from the government. Gilbert Buttner and began banging on the windows and shouting abuse, before turning his attention to the car parked outside. Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard how Beatty, 39, of Briarwood bri·ar·wood n. Wood from the root of the briar. Noun 1. briarwood - wood from the hard woody root of the briar Erica arborea; used to make tobacco pipes brier-wood, brierwood Avenue, Gosforth, was confused about the nature of the religion of Mr Buttner, who is a Jehovah's Witness Jehovah's Witness Member of an international religious movement founded in Pittsburgh, Pa., by Charles T. Russell in 1872. The movement was originally known as the International Bible Students Association, but its name was changed by Russell's successor, Joseph Franklin , after being misinformed while attending a Christian boarding school. Lynn Gray, prosecuting, said: "At 8.30pm on Monday, April 13, Mr Buttner heard noise coming from his porch and saw Mr Beatty banging on his window and car, shouting 'antichrist,' 'devil worshipper,' and 'my father was a Christian vicar'. Mr Buttner then found a dent in his car. "Mr Beatty later told police he had consumed so much alcohol that he could not remember damaging the vehicle and that he had held that view about Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian group originating in the United States at the end of the 19th cent., organized by Charles Taze Russell, whose doctrine centers on the Second Coming of Christ. since he was at Christian boarding school." Mr Buttner, 67, who was home with his wife Ruth, also 67, and son Jonathan, 28, at the time, said: "I was with my wife and son and he was banging on the window and calling us some terrible things. "My wife was very ill with shock and had to be taken away in the ambulance to hospital. "We have lived here for 15 years and have had no problems with the neighbours before this. "The estimated damage to my car was pounds 435, which has been paid by his family." Mr Beatty, who has apologised for his behaviour, said: "I was wrong about Jehovah's Witnesses. "I have since done some research and I now know that they are Christians and not what I first believed." Mr Buttner added: "If he has now learnt more about our faith and no longer thinks these things, then that at least is one positive thing to come out of the situation." Susan Clark Susan Clark (born March 8, 1940 in Sarnia, Ontario) is a Canadian actress, best known as Katherine Papadapolis in the TV sitcom Webster. She is married to her Webster co-star Alex Karras. , chairman of the bench, told Mr Beatty, who admitted religiouslyaggravated criminal damage, that she hoped not to see him in court again. She sentenced him to a 12-month community order.. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion