Influencer Who Threw Chair From High Rise Avoids Jail

Instagram influencer Marcella Zoia, who was filmed chucking a chair off a high rise balcony, has avoided jail.

Zoia, from Toronto in Canada, was dubbed 'Chair Girl' after her she was filmed throwing a chair from a 45th floor balcony onto a busy road in 2019.

In the clip, which was filmed back in Feburary last year, Zoia could be seen launching the chair from the balcony above the Gardiner Expressway - thankfully, no one was injured in the incident.

The clip was posted online where it racked up thousands of views.

Twenty-year-old Zoia pleaded guilty to a charge of mischief endangering life back in November and prosecutors were seeking a six-month jail term.

According to CTV News, Zoia's lawyer Gregory Leslie told the court his client had been drinking the night before the clip was filmed and said she had been diagnosed with ADHD and placed on medication.

He claimed his client had begun 'self-medicating' with alcohol, which had become a 'major problem' while she was in high school.

Speaking in November, he said: "We know that there were more people at that apartment. This is a young lady, intoxicated, there was peer-pressure placed on her and it was a spontaneous reaction."

Instagram/Marcella Zoia

While Zoia told the court: "I am very sorry for my actions... I take this as a lesson."

At a sentencing today, she was given a fine of CA $2,000 (£1,165), 150 hours community service and two years on probation.

Speaking during the hearing, Justice Mara Greene said: "Sadly, this is not the first instance of a harmful act being posted on some social media site for entertainment purposes and to gain publicity.

"A strong message must be sent to the community that engaging in dangerous acts as a means to garner attention and notoriety is unacceptable, and will lead to serious penalties."

Judge Greene added: "It was only by sheer luck that someone was not hurt or killed."

However, Judge Greene said after reviewing the case's mitigating and aggravating factors, including Zoia's age, she decided against a custodial sentence.

Leslie told journalists Zoia was 'ecstatic' that the case was over.

Following her sentencing, Zoia shared a clip of herself dancing and singing with a couple of friends.

Topics: Viral, World News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19