Screaming 'I Hate White People' Before Decking Random White Woman 'Not A Hate Crime'

Van Harten, in a written decision, said Tamara Crowchief's motivation for striking Lydia White was not related to racial bias.

Crown prosecutor Karuna Ramakrishnan, who had sought a sentence of 12 to 15 months, argued Crowchief’s unprovoked attack last Nov. 1, amounted to a hate crime.

[...]"The offender said, 'I hate white people' and threw a punch," Van Harten said in his ruling.

"There is no evidence either way about what the offender meant or whether . . . she holds or promotes an ideology which would explain why this assault was aimed at this victim," he said.

"I am not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that this offence was, even in part, motivated by racial bias."

White was outside Jaimieson's pub on 17th Avenue S.W., with a friend when an acquaintance of Crowchief's approached and asked for, and was given, a cigarette.

As White and her male friend spoke to that woman, Crowchief approached and, without warning, yelled "I hate white people" and punched her in the face, knocking out a tooth.

Crowchief and the woman then walked away, but White and her friend followed and called police, who arrived a short time later and arrested the offender.

During her arrest, Crowchief told police "the white man was out to get her."