Sutil gets suspended jail sentence for nightclub attack

Jan 31, 2012, 10:23 GMT

Munich - Formula One driver Adrian Sutil was given a suspended 18-month prison sentence by a court in Germany Tuesday after being convicted on an assault charge.

The 29-year-old German was also fined 200,000 euros (263,000 dollars) for the attack on Eric Lux, co-owner of the former Renault-Lotus (now Lotus) team, with a champagne glass in a Shanghai nightclub, causing bodily harm.

The prison term was suspended for three years.

Sutil appeared disappointed by the verdict, and his lawyer left it unclear whether he would appeal.

'At least it's over now,' Sutil said, adding he was pleased he had now been able to shake hands with Lux over the affair.

Sutil's Formula One future remains open. He is currently without a drive for 2012 after being replaced by Germany's Nico Hulkenberg at Force India.

'Maybe I will take time out for a year,' he said.

In the row in the M1NT club which had followed last year's Chinese Grand Prix on April 17, Lux suffered an injury to the neck which needed stitches.

Sutil said he had twice pushed Lux without realizing he had a glass in his hand. He said he had no intention of harming Lux and before sentencing again apologized.

However judge Christiane Thiemann said the injury could not have been caused by a push.

'For me there can be no other explanation than that he must have known that a blow to the neck could lead to a life-threatening injury,' she said.