London: Britain`s late Princess Diana`s niece has been charged with assault by South African police after she allegedly took part in a foul-mouthed and violent attack on a cab passenger in Cape Town, a media report said.
Lady Amelia Spencer, the 18-year-old daughter of Diana`s brother Earl Spencer, was with a male friend when the couple got into a row after the taxi cut in front of their car at 2.30 am at a restaurant in Cape Town last month, the `Daily Express` reported.
Lady Amelia, whose mother is Earl Spencer`s first wife Victoria Lockwood, is said to have got out to remonstrate and allegedly beat the taxi`s bodywork in a rage. She allegedly hurled abuse at passenger Ricci Cinti, 27, a fitter who was on crutches from a football injury.
Cinti claimed that Lady Amelia and her male friend pulled the taxi door open and knocked him down. The man is alleged to have punched Cinti in the side of the head. He was later given a brain scan and treated overnight in hospital for a swollen jaw, the report said.
The police said the blonde heiress, a cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry, then fled the scene, in Green Point, downtown Cape Town.
Lady Amelia, who lives in Cape Town with her sister Kitty, 20, twin Eliza and brother Louis, 16, was fingerprinted after being traced through the car registration plates.
When the incident was made public yesterday, her father hit back, claiming she had been assaulted first and had decided to press charges against the injured man.
Earl Spencer, 46, said: "It is upsetting that a man who assaulted my daughter should try to press charges against her when she had merely reacted in self-defence."
Lady Amelia is due to appear before a Cape Town court on February 01 charged with common assault.
PTI
