Court orders compensation for British Christmas tree victim

The Prague City Court has ruled that British tourist Malcolm Tuffin, who was seriously injured when a 30-metre tall Christmas tree fell on him in December 2003, is entitled to compensation worth 560,000 crowns (27,000 USD). The court also overturned an earlier ruling ordering the city of Prague to pay more than 110,000 dollars in compensation. Mr Tuffin suffered fractures to the spine and femur bones when strong winds brought down the tree in a crowded Christmas market on Prague's Old Town Square. The court has also ruled the Prague City Hall and the company operating the Christmas market were responsible for the accident.