Princess Caroline Of Monaco Defends Husband Over 'Symbolic' Slapping

HILDESHEIM, Germany — Princess Caroline of Monaco told a court Wednesday that her husband slapped a hotel owner in Kenya as a symbolic reproach over noise from a disco but did not beat the man.

Prince Ernst August of Hannover – a distant relative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II – is being retried on charges of causing serious bodily harm in the 2000 incident.

The princess, clad in black, told the court in English that her husband "got angry" with Josef Brunlehner, owner of a hotel on Lamu Island, and slapped him twice with an open hand after becoming irritated at the noise from a disco.

"I would say it was not very strong. It was more symbolic," Caroline, 52, testified.

Ernst August, 55, great-grandson of the last German emperor, Wilhelm II – is being retried after being convicted in 2004 and fined euro445,000 ($633,500).

Ernst August does not deny the assault but he is seeking to have the charge and sentence reduced.

Caroline, 52, testified behind closed doors on her husband's behalf in a 2008 hearing that led to the retrial. She agreed to Wednesday's appearance after the court guaranteed that media and others would be kept at least 3 yards (meters) away from her.

In the first trial, the court ruled that Ernst August repeatedly hit Brunlehner with a metal ring that he was wearing in January 2000.

Ernst August said that he only slapped Brunlehner. Caroline added that her husband never wears rings – not even his wedding band.

Kenyan authorities did not arrest Ernst August after the incident, but it was pursued in Germany where the law allows prosecutors to charge citizens who commit crimes abroad.

It is not Ernst August's first run-in with the law; he was fined in 1999 for attacking a German photographer and had his driver's license suspended for a month in 2003 for speeding on a French highway.

Comments

[Lozange]

06:32 PM on 01/14/2010

Not even his wedding band lol! Little jab there at his dalliance in Thailand with another woman around New Year's. He's not married to me, that's for sure or he'd be getting the soap treatment about now.

[VS007]

05:18 PM on 01/14/2010

Dont worry Carolone, even the punishment is symbolic.

[nana4g]

05:08 PM on 01/14/2010

A slap that is "symbolic" of an expression of frustration or anger because the "noise is too loud" is symbolic of someone who needs anger management classes.

I, too, think every available symbol of justice should be imposed upon this would be, has been "Prince", who is anything but a prince of a man.

His long suffering wife needs to give this one the boot as well and just admit that her taste in men is sorely lacking. How many times has she been "symbolically slapped" and would she just excuse it away, as a symbol of deeper feelings against herself?

[TheOnlooker]

02:02 PM on 01/14/2010

Symbolic slapping??? What the heck is that? Is it like a pat on the face? Or does the hand actually touch the face? Is it just a gesture? I am curious to know. I wonder what else could be included in this 'symbolic' portfolio!

[cocolola]

10:09 AM on 01/14/2010

These people live on another planet where you can deliberately hurt others and call it symbolic. There is an elitist sense of entitlement here: "People beneath me can be smacked down without reason". Tacky, tacky.

[Pema]

09:39 AM on 01/14/2010

so abuse is o by this woman. lost all respect for her.

[karela]

09:27 AM on 01/14/2010

Who else has the guy hit? If he's been prosecuted twice for hitting people when he feels frustrated, maybe he should get smacked sufficiently hard for it that he will quit hitting people. I get frustrated and angry sometimes but I don't hit hotel managers, taxi drivers or restaurant hostesses. How did this guy get the idea that he is so much more important than other people that he can slap them when he wants to? I think he should get all the original punishment this time around but they should add something. They should arrange a large public viewing with video and let the hotel manager slap the prince. Twice. Ring optional.

[duxguts]

06:52 AM on 01/14/2010

Princess of a crappy little tax haven.

[Yank in France]

06:34 AM on 01/14/2010

Lucky the incident didn't occur in America, the world's lawsuit capital: he would have been stuck with a multi-million dollar lawsuit!!

[Michelle McG]

04:13 AM on 01/14/2010

It was certainly symbolic, Caroline; symbolic of your bad taste in men.

[vascopyjama]

01:10 AM on 01/14/2010

Symbolically slap a million dollar lawsuit on him.

[cocolola]

09:57 AM on 01/14/2010

I was going to say that.

[amalfedup]

12:11 AM on 01/14/2010

I guess it does symbolize the Elites European attitude towards Africans who dare to make noise and annoy their masters!

[dzagama]

01:28 AM on 01/14/2010

Josef Brunlehner

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/German+Prince+Ernst+August+Hanover+Faces+Trial+6t8NOtw8ANMl.jpg

[Garioch]

01:48 AM on 01/14/2010

Have you ever watched the interaction between Americans of any class and the locals of any country especially any that doesn't speak English as a first language?
Pots and kettles calling.

[opprobrious]

10:12 PM on 01/13/2010

Can I smack you? I promise it'll only be symbolic.

[JohnnyKay]

09:57 PM on 01/13/2010

"How petty, those royals. Off with their heads!"

[deepintheheartoftejas]

09:16 PM on 01/13/2010

As a wealthy aristocrat, I too occasionally condescend to lightly slap an impudent servant or peasant, but I would never beat him myself. The slap is just symbolic of my displeasure. It doesn't really hurt.

Then, I order my manservants to thrash the lackey within an inch of his life.

[k1k2lee]

12:42 AM on 01/14/2010

LOL!!! Funniest thing I've read in a long time on Huffpo

[mech126]

01:43 AM on 01/14/2010

NOW that was funny, fanned