Princess Diana's niece cleared of smacking man on crutches at McDonald's

Princess Diana's niece was today cleared of all charges relating to an alleged fight outside a McDonald's in South Africa.

Lady Amelia Spencer was accused of common assault after claims she "swore at, smacked and kicked" a man on crutches at the burger restaurant in Cape Town.

But lawyers for the 18-year-old successfully argued she had "suffered enough" from the worldwide publicity generated by the case.

Lady Amelia, who denied the accusations, was accompanied to Cape Town magistrates' court by her mother Victoria Lockwood. Asked if she was relieved the charges were dropped, she said "Yes".

Today her father, Earl Spencer, said: "Amelia has found it very tough, knowing she is not guilty but having the charges against her trumpeted around the world as if she were. Now she has been totally vindicated and I am thrilled for her"

Lady Amelia was accused of attacking 27-year-old machinist Ricci Cinti last December at the drive-through McDonald's. He claimed he was hospitalised with concussion after Lady Amelia "flicked a cigarette butt" into his taxi before "swearing at, smacking and kicking" him.

John Barbis, a friend of the heiress, was then alleged to have joined in after Mr Cinti's car overtook theirs in the queue.

Her lawyer William Booth said: "She has been traumatised by this case. The story and pictures of her have featured in magazine and newspapers all around the world, even when the case was not on. If she was an ordinary person, she would not have received this level of coverage. She has been emotionally affected by all this."

Prosecuting lawyer Carmen Daniels said the state was withdrawing the charges unconditionally. Mr Booth told the packed courtroom: "We represented submissions to the Director of Public Prosecutions to look at the various factors and personal circumstances in this case. There was not sufficient evidence to pursue a prosecution against my client and the DPP agreed."

Dressed in white baggy T-shirt, black jacket, leggings and ballet shoes, Lady Amelia was not required to speak during the brief hearing.
Lady Amelia's lawyers argued she would not have received the same treatment if she had been "a normal student" Since the last hearing, Mr Cinti was arrested for drink driving in a different incident at the same McDonald's. These two factors, plus the weakness of other witness evidence against Lady Amelia, led prosecutors to drop the case.

Amelia is the daughter of 46-year-old Earl Spencer and his first wife, former model Ms Lockwood, 45. She grew up in the affluent Cape Town suburb of Constantia with elder sister Kitty, 20, twin sister Eliza and brother the Honourable Louis Frederick Spencer, 16.