S. African Denies Guilt in Vermont Assault Case

BURLINGTON, Vt. — A South African diplomat accused of driving his limousine through a group of anti-apartheid protesters pleaded innocent to a charge of simple assault Monday.

Duke Kent-Brown, a vice consul at the South African Consulate in New York, was released on personal recognizance. He was leaving a South Burlington radio station March 7 when he was surrounded by 30 to 40 chanting protesters. Kent-Brown allegedly drove the car through the crowd and sped off, slightly injuring a protester and a police officer.