Pianist escapes prison term for 'psychological damage' to neighbour through daily practice
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 @ 9:33 AM
A CONCERT pianist facing seven-and-a-half years in prison for 'noise nuisance' after her neighbour complained of 'psychological damage' has been acquitted.
Laia M., who was 26 at the time – in 2003 – was a concert pianist studying a music degree at the Conservatory in Puigcerdà (Girona province) where she lived.
She practised at home between 09.00hrs and 18.00hrs, Monday to Friday, with an hour's break for lunch between 13.00hrs and 14.00hrs.
A woman living in the flat above claimed she had been signed off sick from work due to 'psychological damage' including 'panic attacks', 'sleep disorders' and 'anxiety' as a result of the constant piano noise from downstairs.
Laia was initially facing a seven-and-a-half-year jail term for noise nuisance or 'criminal offences against the environment', and for a criminal charge of 'inflicting psychological trauma' on a third party.
The court reduced the State prosecution service's proposed sentence to 20 months, which would mean Laia would not have to go to jail as it was a first offence and less than a two-year custodial term.
But the verdict passed by the court of Girona today (Tuesday) found that the pianist, now aged 36, and her parents had taken steps to sound-proof the room where Laia practised, and also found no evidence of any relation between the music and the plaintiff's mental health conditions.
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