- Emma Marie Camilleri, 35, and twins Sarah and Ashleigh, 18, in court
- Case adjourned until June after lawyer failed to turn up to represent the trio
- Family are accused of attacking May Saber and pulling off her headscarf
- Ms Saber was walking back from Croydon Islamic primary school last June
A mother and her twin teenage daughters appeared in court today accused of racially abusing a Muslim woman and pulling her hijab off.
MS-sufferer Emma Marie Camilleri, 35, and her children Sarah and Ashleigh Gaskin, both 18, were due to be tried at Croydon Magistrates' Court today.
May Saber was allegedly attacked by the group of women in Croydon, south London, on June 4 last year while on the school run.
He aring: Emma Marie Camilleri, 35, arrives at Croydon Magistrates Court accused of attacking a Muslim woman and pulling off her hijab
Defendents: Ms Camilleri's 18-year-old twins Sarah Gaskin, left and Ashleigh Gaskin, right, are also accused of attacking the woman
But today's ca se was adjourned until June after a lawyer failed to turn up to represent the trio.
Ms Camilleri was supported by a walking stick while her daughters were spotted with a baby outside of court.
The trial was ready to go ahead, but magistrates decided to adjourn the case so a lawyer could be instructed to cross-examine any witnesses.
Chair of the bench Mimi Watts said: 'It is not your fault that your representative is not here.
'We do not consider it in the public interest to carry on today.'
The trio, all of Lower Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe, deny racially aggravated common assault.
Last year they were accused of racially abusing the victim, pulling off her headscarf and hitting her as she walked to the Islamic Al-Khair primary school in Pitlake.
On trial: Emma Marie Camilleri (left) and twin daughters Sarah Gaskin (pushing a buggy) and Ashleigh Gaskin (right) have been accused of attacking a Muslim woman and pulling off her hijab
Police also investigated claims officers called to the assault laughed at the victim.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said at the time: 'The victim has made a formal complaint in relation to the Met's response to the incident. This will be investigated fully.'
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References
- ^ Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline (www.dailymail.co.uk)
