The name of a British woman, previously convicted of racism for referring to her New Zealand-born neighbour as an Australian, has been exonerated.
Last November, Petra Mills found herself arrested after she shouted at her neighbour, calling her a “stupid fat Australian,” during a drunken outburst on her front lawn.
Chelsea O’Reilly, the neighbour in question, claims that Ms Mills was aware of her New Zealand origins but chose to use the term “Australian” to insult her.
In court, Mills asserted that while she did yell at Ms O’Reilly, it was not racially motivated.
“I did not use the word Australian. I used to live with an Australian person. She was very nice,” Mills explained.
Originally charged with racially aggravated public disorder, Ms Mills was fined $162.
Nevertheless, the local court in Chester has now reversed the ruling, stating that calling someone “Australian” does not constitute a racist slur.
Following the ordeal, Ms Mills opted to relocate to north Wales to avoid the stigma associated with her prior conviction.
