Hungary: Female journalist who kicked a refugee receives a 3-year suspended sentence.

Television journalist Petra Laszlo, who tripped a father carrying a small child and kicked a fleeing refugee, has been sentenced to three years of probation for disturbing the peace.

Footage of a Hungarian television journalist tripping and causing a refugee father and son to fall has sparked outrage online. Source: YouTube

The incident occurred at the Hungary-Serbia border in 2015, when a massive influx of Middle Eastern refugees fled from the police. They were terrified. They were carrying their belongings. They were holding young children. They were desperately searching for a better life. Along with many other colleagues, journalist Laszlo was present at the scene to report on the event, her role being filming.

However, to the astonishment of many, including the victim, she tripped a father carrying a small child, causing both of them to fall. Getting up, the father looked at the journalist with a mixture of horror and anger.

Because it was a location where many journalists were working, the scene of Laszlo subsequently kicking other refugees, including a young girl, was easily captured on camera.

The father and son tumbled to the ground after being tripped by a Hungarian television journalist. Photo: Reuters

According to the BBC, Laszlo stated that she was "too scared" to react that way when she saw the crowd rushing towards her. When she first started filming, the refugees were under police control; but then many suddenly broke through the barriers and fled towards Hungary, the same direction she was standing. She also said that after the video of her kicking the refugees went viral online, she received death threats and became the target of a hate campaign.

However, Hungarian judge Illes Nanasi concluded on January 12 that the journalist's actions were contrary to social morality, rejecting the lawyer's defense that she was only trying to defend herself.

Laszlo said he would appeal.

Meanwhile, N1TV, the television channel where Laszlo worked, fired her immediately after the clip went viral on social media.

According to TNO