John Galliano Found Guilty

Fashion designer John Galliano has been found guilty of racism and anti-Semitism following his public drunken slur at a Paris café earlier this year which resulted in his abrupt dismissal from Christian Dior, as well as his own label.

Galliano, who was absent from the hearing yesterday in an effort to avoid the media - was fined 16,500 euros, (approx. AU$21,660) but escaped the recommended jail-term of six months.

Galliano's lawyer, Aurélien Hamelle, said the decision was "satisfactory," and that it demonstrated that “the court took into account the apologies of Mr. Galliano (and) the fact that he was sick at the time of the events.

"Now Mr. Galliano is relieved, he is looking forward to the future and hopes people will, with time, understand and forgive," Hamelle said.

Marc Jacobs Set To Take Over At Dior?

Meanwhile, the plaintiff's lawyer, Yves Beddouk, conceded that Galliano's career loss had been the biggest punishment of all.

"The fact that he has lost the iconic status conferred on him by his position as artistic director of Dior is the greatest punishment of all," said Beddouk. "I think the court understood that. That punishment was self-inflicted."

Galliano has maintained a low profile in the months leading up to the verdict, telling US Vogue it was only after supermodel Kate Moss asked him to create her wedding dress that he was able to pick up a pencil again.

"She dared me to be John Galliano again," the designer said. "It's been my creative rehab."