'Leprechaun' insult case dropped

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7701863.stm

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A teenager from Liverpool who was being prosecuted for swearing at her pregnant Irish neighbour and calling her a leprechaun has had her case dropped.

Andeliza Tucker, 18, of Garston, was charged with racially aggravated harassment.

She was about to be tried at Liverpool Crown Court at a cost of thousands when prosecutors withdrew the case.

A Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said it had been right to prosecute Miss Tucker.

The evidential and public interest tests were met and it was deemed suitable for summary trial before magistrates CPS spokesman

Andeliza Tucker allegedly insulted Belfast-born Helen Vince in June during a long-running feud. Miss Tucker claimed she was talking about leprechauns after watching a film about them.

He said: "We went to crown court on Wednesday and were served with a piece of evidence from the defence. We reviewed the case and in the light of the evidence served that morning decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction."