A Belgian cyclist who gained notoriety after being accused of kneeing a 5-year-old girl and causing her to fall on Christmas Day 2020 has successfully won a defamation lawsuit against the girl’s father.
The incident, captured in a viral video, depicted the young girl and her mother walking along a nature trail when an unidentified 63-year-old cyclist approached from behind. In what appeared to be a deliberate act, he extended his knee, causing the child to tumble face-first into the snow. The cyclist then rode away without offering an apology, prompting the family to report the incident to the authorities.
The girl’s father, Patrick Mpasa, recorded the ordeal and later shared it on social media, where it quickly gained widespread attention.
The case eventually made its way to court in February 2021. During the trial, the cyclist contended that he extended his knee to “avoid a fall” and claimed that he “did not immediately realize” that he had knocked over the young girl.
The judge presiding over the case ordered the cyclist to pay a minor fine, roughly equivalent to $1, reasoning that the cyclist did not have the intent to harm the girl, identified as Neia. The judge also acknowledged that the cyclist had faced significant criticism on social media since the incident.
However, Patrick Mpasa insisted that he had not shared the video seeking revenge. Instead, he stated that his goal was to “raise awareness” about the potential dangers of similar situations. In a December 2020 post, he emphasized that he did not desire a witch hunt but simply wanted the cyclist to apologize.
Subsequently, the cyclist initiated a defamation lawsuit against the family, which he eventually won. A judge in the city of Verviers is expected to determine the amount of compensation the cyclist will receive from the lawsuit in April.