Hate crime trial for man who taught pug to do a Nazi salute
A MAN has denied committing a hate crime by filming a pet pug giving Nazi salutes and putting the footage on YouTube. Mark Meechan, 29, recorded his girlfriend’s pug, Buddha, responding to statements such as ‘gas the Jews’ and ‘Sieg Heil’ by raising its paw.
But after complaints about the content, police were called in and Meechan was arrested for allegedly committing a hate crime by uploading the footage on to the popular video sharing website in April last year. He denies any wrongdoing. Meechan is heard saying in the video he only got the dog to do it to annoy his girlfriend Suzanne Kelly, 29.
At the start of the clip he says: ‘My girlfriend is always ranting and raving about how cute and adorable her wee dog is so I thought I would turn him into the least cute thing I could think of which is a Nazi.’
In the video Buddha is seen perking up when it hears the statements and appears to lift its paw to the ‘Sieg Heil’ command in the video which Scotsman Meechan called ‘M8 yer dugs a Nazi’. It is also filmed watching a fiery rally by Adolf Hitler in a film which documents the Olympic Games in Berlin held in 1936.
Prosecutors allege Meechan, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, communicated material that would cause fear and alarm and stir up hatred on religious grounds by posting a clip which was ‘anti-semitic in nature’ to YouTube.
He also faces an alternative charge of posting a video on social media and YouTube which was grossly offensive because it was ‘anti- semitic and racist in nature’ and the prosecution claim it was aggravated by religious prejudice. In evidence, PC Colin Duff, 31, told the trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court that his investigation led him to believe Meechan was the owner of the ‘ Count Dankula’ YouTube channel which posted the video.
He also played the video of the dog in court and explained that it was still widely available to users and continued to rack up thousands of hits a day.
The clip has now been viewed more than 2.8million times. Denial: Mark Meechan says he is not a racist The court was also shown a second video where Meechan apologised for any offence the clips caused.
He says: ‘I am not a racist at all, anybody who knows me could tell you that.
‘I’m freaked out because everyone’s going to actually think that I hate Jews now and I don’t at all. I’m kind of panicked about it. Honestly, I don’t hate anyone, the whole purpose of this was just to annoy my girlfriend.
‘I just want everyone to know that I don’t wish any ill-will on any race or anything, it’s just how shock comedy works.
‘It was strictly made to annoy my girlfriend and give my friends something to laugh at.
‘I am so sorry to the Jewish community for any offence I have caused them. This was never my intention and I apologise.’
The trial before Sheriff Derek O’Carroll has been adjourned until later this year.
‘It’s how shock comedy works’