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A mixed race South African man who was involved in a heated altercation with former England rugby star Ugo Monye after using the N-word in his vicinity has been cleared of using ‘racial or threatening language’.
The incident, which occurred in November 2023, saw Angus Beukus and Mr Monye grapple with one another outside Sandy Park, the home of Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs.
Exeter Magistrates’ Court today heard how the ex-Harlequins winger had been working at a game between Exeter and Gloucester as a television analyst before leaving the ground to catch a taxi to the train station.
However, as Mr Monye was making his way out of the venue, he encountered a man with a South African accent repeatedly using the N-word in a manner which left him ‘extremely shocked’.
Mr Beukes, a mechanic, appeared via videolink from South Africa and defended himself.
The 32-year-old denied the charge of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress and claimed he had been speaking to a female friend, who is also South African, when he used the N-Word.
Mr Beukes defence also included his claim that the N-word was an acceptable phrase in his home country.
Exeter Magistrates ultimately found the South African not guilty, concluding that prosecutors had been unable to prove that Mr Beukes was aware the N-word was unacceptable to use in Britain.
Former England rugby star Ugo Monye grappled with a South African man moments after the N-word used in his vicinity in November 2023
The incident occurred at Sandy Park, the home ground of Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs
Delivering his verdict, presiding justice Paul Doyle said that the ‘key point’ within the case was whether or not Mr Beukes intended for his actions to be threatening, abusive or insulting, and if he knew they might have been.
‘In evidence, we have heard that the use of the n-word was directed at your friend,’ Mr Doyle told Mr Beukes.
‘We have also heard that there has been no general socialising outside of the South African community that you shared a house with while in the UK for the time you were here.
‘We heard from a number of independent witnesses. The majority of those agreed that the use of the n-word was used towards your friend to stop her from using her phone.
‘Mr Monye’s evidence is that the n-word was used multiple times, also following when he remonstrated with you and while you were running away.’
The court also heard how Mr Beukes had been living in the UK for six months at the time of the incident, with deliberation over whether this was a sufficient period of time for him to become accustomed to UK culture and therefore aware of the unacceptable nature of the slur.
‘The onus is on the prosecution to show us that this was the case,’ he added.
‘We find that they have not demonstrated this beyond reasonable doubt.
‘As these elements have not been fully proved to a satisfactory standard, we find you not guilty of the offence’, Justice Doyle concluded.
Presiding justice Paul Doyle today delivered a not guilty verdict for accused Angus Beukes
Ugo Monye made 14 appearances for England between 2008 and 2012
In a statement read before the court by prosecuting lawyer Maree Doyle, Mr Monye spoked of his ‘shock’ at hearing the use of the N-word.
‘I felt immediately shocked by this as the word is extremely offensive. I heard the word again said as the male went past me. The male stood in front of me and repeated the word again’, Mr Monye said.
‘My first thought was he would have to be drunk to be shouting that word in public. I had a bag over my shoulder. I dropped it on the floor to challenge his behaviour.
‘I said ‘mate, you can’t be saying that’. I took hold of him at the top of his jacket. We were sort of jostling but it didn’t get any more physical than that. I expected him to apologise. He just seemed to double down’, he added.
As the two men grappled with one another, Mr Monye said that supporters intervened and broke up the jostling, before the former England winger asked for someone to take a photo of Mr Beukes.
Mr Monye then alleged that the South African repeated the slur once more before running off. ‘He said it while looking me in the eye,’ Mr Monye added.
In his own version of events, Mr Beukes said he had been invited to the game by friends. He also insisted that the N-word has ‘no significant meaning’ in his homeland and that he was not aware he had caused offence until witnessing Mr Monye’s reaction.
‘In South Africa, we reprimand each other like that. In my country, it doesn’t mean anything. It has no meaning whatsoever’, Mr Beukes added.
He went on to tell the court that he had only used the slur once, saying to his female friend ‘My N-word, put your phone away’ as she was causing a bottleneck queue of fans attempting to leave the stadium.
Exeter Chiefs apologised to Mr Monye following the incident, which was investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police.
In a statement released at the time, the Rugby Football Union said it was ‘appalled’ by what happened and pledged its ‘full support’ to Mr Monye.
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