Sutil guilty of causing grievous bodily harm

Former Force India driver Adrian Sutil has been found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Eric Lux by a Munich court. The 29-year-old German, who is without a drive in 2012 after being replaced by Nico Hulkenberg, has been given an 18 month suspended jail sentence and a €200,000 fine.

The incident happened in a Shanghai nightclub following last year’s Chinese Grand Prix. Judge Christiane Thiemann found Sutil guilty of injuring Lux, CEO of Genii Capital, with a champagne glass. Lux required several stitches to help heal the resulting neck wound.

Speaking after the two-day trial Sutil said, “Maybe I will take some time out now. Maybe I will do something completely different, think about things in peace.

“At least I shook Mr Lux’s hands. That’s a good thing.”

On the opening day of the trial Sutil claimed he had apologised to Lux several times and said he had no intention of causing him any harm, rather he simply wanted throw a drink in his face.

Prosecutor Nicole Selzam asked the court for a 21 month suspended sentence and a €300,000 fine stating, “Pushing someone away with a glass is adventurous and not in line with our experience of life.

“Professional athletes play a role model function in public life and such incidents should not occur.”

For his part Sutil will be happier the court decided on a lesser sentence and can take some heart that his fine will be paid to charities.

Lewis Hamilton, winner of the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix, was a witness to the events in the Shanghai nightclub but was apparently too busy to attend the court case.

[Source: Reuters | Pic: Sutton Images]