Bullied to death.

[Falc'man]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...08/2812998.htm


Company, workers fined $335k for waitress's bullying



A magistrate has fined a Melbourne cafe company $220,000 over a workplace bullying case that resulted in a waitress committing suicide.

Brodie Panlock, a 19-year-old waitress, took her own life in 2006 after enduring persistent bullying by her colleagues at Cafe Vamp in Hawthorn.

Company director Marc Da Cruz and three of his employees, Nicholas Smallwood, 26, now of Queensland, Rhys MacAlpine, 28, of Kooyong, and Gabriel Toomey, 23 of Abbotsford all pleaded guilty to charges under the occupational health and safety act.

The court was told Smallwood and MacAlpine mentally and physically bullied Ms Panlock during work hours and even taunted her about a previous suicide attempt.

The magistrate described their bullying as "persistent and vicious" and said cafe owner Da Cruz condoned it.

Smallwood was fined $45,000. MacAlpine was fined $30,000 and Toomey must pay $10,000. Da Cruz was fined $30,000.

Prosecutor Gary Livermore told a pre-sentence hearing last week that witnesses had seen Smallwood and MacAlpine pour fish oil into Ms Panlock's kitbag and then pour it over her hair and clothes, reducing her to tears.

He also said they engaged in indirect bullying, such as calling her fat and ugly.

It won't take a lot to push someone over the edge. And instead of heeding the situation they drive her further till she kills herself?

It's also sad to learn that other people new this was happening but did nothing about it: look out for your fellow humans when you get the chance.