Reginald D Hunter appears in court over alleged antisemitic posts

Comic Reginald D Hunter has appeared in courtroom over alleged antisemitic social media posts.The US stand-up comedian, 56, is accused of three counts of sending an offensive communication on three completely different events to Heidi Bachram on X, previously Twitter, on 24 August, and 10 and 11 September final yr.Mr Hunter spoke to substantiate his private particulars when he appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on Monday for the personal prosecution, which is being introduced by the Marketing campaign In opposition to Antisemitism (CAA) charity.He was bailed to return for a listening to on the similar courtroom on 14 November, the place he’ll be taught if the case will go forward and whether or not he must enter a plea.It’s alleged the comic despatched a computer-generated sexual picture to Ms Bachram in August final yr, with the costs claiming it was “grossly offensive”.Deputy district choose Louise Balmain advised him: “There may be going to be an preliminary authorized argument as as to if the case ought to proceed and that can happen on November 14.”Mr Hunter, whose tackle was given as care of Kalber Struckley solicitors, was launched on unconditional bail.The comic frequently performs reveals throughout the UK and has additionally appeared on many well-known panel reveals together with By no means Thoughts The Buzzcocks, Have I Bought Information For You and eight Out Of 10 Cats.He has posted on social media that he’s “combating a non-public prosecution for my comedy” in a crowdfunding attraction launched to assist cowl authorized charges.A complete of £19,836 in the direction of a £50,000 goal had been pledged by the point he made his first look in courtroom on Monday.The CAA describes itself as an organisation of volunteers which works to “expose and counter antisemitism by means of schooling and zero-tolerance enforcement of the regulation”.Stephen Silverman, the group’s director of investigations and enforcement, beforehand mentioned: “That is one in every of a lot of personal prosecutions that we’re bringing, and there will likely be extra to say on the case in the end.” Personal prosecutions are instances dropped at felony courts with out the involvement of the police or CPS.