The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Facebook Racism Drummer Lee Rigby

Woman 'ashamed' of racist Facebook comments after Drummer Lee Rigby death, court hears

By Angela Haggerty | Reporter

June 14, 2013 | 2 min read

A woman who posted racist comments on Facebook after the brutal attack on Drummer Lee Rigby has been handed a suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay costs totalling £145.

Attack: Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich last month

Michaela Turner, 24, was sentenced to an eight-week prison term, suspended for six months, at Portsmouth magistrates court after pleading guilty to an offence under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

The court was told Turner's comments included: "Feeling like burning down some mosques in Portsmouth, anyone want to join me?"

Turner said she had been drinking when she posted the comments and shared other racist comments on the social networking site.

Defending Turner, Rebecca Strong said her client had been "extremely upset" at the scenes in Woolwich and was ashamed of the comments she made, while prosecutor Hugh Morgan said the comments "created the risk that something could happen".

Tensions have been high following the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, London, last month and police have stepped up security after concerns recent attacks on mosques may be racially and religiously motivated.

Facebook Racism Drummer Lee Rigby

More from Facebook

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +