RSS FeedSpeaking of getting “tough on crime”, how about “hate”?
When a local Georgian Township man, Trevor Middleton, was convicted of assault and criminal negligence in December, 2009, friends and family of the victims were hopeful that justice was served.
The Toronto Star
During the case, the jury had heard how Middleton and his friends had engaged in the practice of “nip-tipping” – that is, they would push into the water individuals who were fishing and who were of visibly Asian descent. This would be on the pretense that such people were fishing illegally, without licenses, or catching more fish than they were allowed to.
As well, the jury had heard how, after this altercation, Middleton had pursued the victims in his F-150 pick-up, how he had rammed their Civic with his truck, and how the victims were forced off the road and into a tree. The jury also had heard how one of the occupants, Shayne Berwick, suffered severe brain injury and is now confined to a wheelchair.
As a result, the jury had taken all of three hours to find Middleton guilty.
Those who “nip-tip” Asian anglers guilty on both sides of the border
In 2007, Chinese language media in Ontario began coverage about an interesting phenomenon: in and around popular Lake Simcoe fishing spots, reports of incidents where anglers of Asian decent were targeted for assault. Most commonly, Asian anglers or their equipment were thrown into the water. An inquiry by the Ontario Human Rights Commission found evidence of racial harassment that ranged from the use of racial slurs to stone-throwing.
Coverage of the issue increased when at the end of one incident, a car accident left a young man in a coma. Today, the defendant charged in that Sept. 16, 2007 incident was found guilty of assault and criminal negligence.
Toronto Star
