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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Muslim dispute 'ruining' business | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A devout Christian hotelier has told a court that a guest he allegedly insulted over her Muslim faith is trying to ruin his business | |
| Benjamin Vogelenzang, 53, scolded Ericka Tazi from the witness box at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. | Benjamin Vogelenzang, 53, scolded Ericka Tazi from the witness box at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. |
| His wife Sharon, 54, also told the court that takings were down by 80% at the Bounty House Hotel, Aintree. | |
| The couple deny using threatening, abusive or insulting words which were religiously aggravated. | The couple deny using threatening, abusive or insulting words which were religiously aggravated. |
| The court previously heard allegations the 60-year-old was asked if she was a "terrorist and a murderer" because she was wearing Islamic dress. | The court previously heard allegations the 60-year-old was asked if she was a "terrorist and a murderer" because she was wearing Islamic dress. |
| But the couple have claimed that Mrs Tazi, a white British Muslim convert, told them that Jesus was a "minor prophet" and that the bible was untrue. | But the couple have claimed that Mrs Tazi, a white British Muslim convert, told them that Jesus was a "minor prophet" and that the bible was untrue. |
| 'Robust' debate | 'Robust' debate |
| Mr Vogelenzang told prosecutor Anya Horwood in cross examination: "At the time I was persuaded she (Ericka) was quite a nice person. | Mr Vogelenzang told prosecutor Anya Horwood in cross examination: "At the time I was persuaded she (Ericka) was quite a nice person. |
| "I was mistaken, you know why? She wasn't a nice person, she wasn't a loving person, she ratted to the police and is trying to make us lose our business." | "I was mistaken, you know why? She wasn't a nice person, she wasn't a loving person, she ratted to the police and is trying to make us lose our business." |
| Upon hearing his comments, District Judge Richard Clancy told him: "Behave yourself please." | Upon hearing his comments, District Judge Richard Clancy told him: "Behave yourself please." |
| When Mr Vogelenzang returned to the dock to sit alongside his wife he bowed his head and began to cry. | When Mr Vogelenzang returned to the dock to sit alongside his wife he bowed his head and began to cry. |
| She called Our Lord a minor prophet Benjamin Vogelenzang | |
| The court heard that the couple, who have five adopted children and have fostered a Muslim boy, returned to the hotel after a holiday three days before the alleged incident on 20 March. | The court heard that the couple, who have five adopted children and have fostered a Muslim boy, returned to the hotel after a holiday three days before the alleged incident on 20 March. |
| The hotel manager told them that guests had been engaging in robust debates about religion over dinner table, led by Mrs Tazi and a self confessed happy clappy Christian". | |
| Mr Vogelenzang told his defence counsel, Hugh Tomlinson QC, that, on the morning of 20 March he overheard Mrs Tazi talking to his wife. | |
| He said: "Her wording was, in essence, 'I've tried all the religions, I've tried Jesus, it didn't work for me but the Bible is untrue anyway and Jesus is a minor prophet'. | |
| "She called Our Lord a minor prophet. My reaction was 'You haven't prayed alone and asked God to prove himself to you'. | |
| Historical figures | |
| He admitted that his wife may have referred to the hijab as a form of bondage, but said he accepted that she wore it because of her love for Allah. | |
| Mr Vogelenzang said he later tried to make light of the situation by reeling off a list of historical figures, including Caesar, Nero, Hitler, Mao and Saddam Hussein. | |
| Mr Vogelenzang said: "She took the examples of history and she started provoking me by saying 'Oh, will you tell me then that I'm a murderer, that I'm a Nazi? You're telling me I'm a terrorist?' | |
| "I never meant it this way." | |
| He denied shouting or referring to the prophet Mohammed as a warlord, and claimed Mrs Tazi left the hotel "as cool as a cucumber". | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |