British fashion designer John Galliano will appear in a Paris court tomorrow charged with anti-Jewish behaviour, a criminal offence in France.
The former creative director of Dior was arrested after he is said to have called Geraldine Bloch a “dirty Jew” and a video later emerged of Mr Galliano allegedly shouting “I love Hitler” and telling a group in a Paris bar “people like you would be gassed.”
If convicted, he could face a six month jail sentence and a £21,000 fine.
His defence lawyers said Mr Galliano was ill when the incident took place, and that he was addicted to alcohol, Valium and sleeping pills.
Lawyer Aurelien Hamelle said: “The combined effect of these drugs left him in a state of complete and utter abandon. When he was in this state, he had no way of knowing or remembering what he said. Every witness at the cafe has said he was acting out of character."
Mr Gallliano is believed to have been in rehab in the US.
The court case is expected to finish within a day, and a judgment is expected by September.