Just a little news item from the BBC (its a slow news day)
An Australian man convicted of breaking wind in front of police has had his conviction for rude behaviour quashed. Judge Leslie Ross ruled that such biological events were "involuntary and natural". David Paul Grixti, 28, had been fined A$200 in the Werribee Magistrate's Court earlier this year for offensive behaviour, the Melbourne Age newspaper reported. He took his battle to County Court, appealing against his conviction for "letting the flatulence escape" in a public place. The case against him was based on an incident at Werribee police station last year. On 13 August Mr Grixti approached the counter at the station watch house and, after being asked if he needed help, officers said he "poked the rear end of his body out" and broke wind. Senior Constable Shane Andrew Binns testified that Mr Grixti was staring right at him as he did this, and that his behaviour created a stench in the station. Senior Constable Binns said he called out to the author of the smell, but Mr Grixti simply looked at him and then walked away. A second witness, told the court he believed the "disgusting" act to have been deliberate. But the judge said there was no proof that this was true.
He ruled that breaking wind was "quite often involuntary". The fact that Mr Grixti bent over to make the situation "a little more comfortable" was not proof of intent to pass gas. "I don't believe... you can turn that particular piece of human behaviour on at will," the judge said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_1531000/1531005.stm
Come on judge...haven't you ever watched Howard Stern on cable?
An Australian man convicted of breaking wind in front of police has had his conviction for rude behaviour quashed. Judge Leslie Ross ruled that such biological events were "involuntary and natural". David Paul Grixti, 28, had been fined A$200 in the Werribee Magistrate's Court earlier this year for offensive behaviour, the Melbourne Age newspaper reported. He took his battle to County Court, appealing against his conviction for "letting the flatulence escape" in a public place. The case against him was based on an incident at Werribee police station last year. On 13 August Mr Grixti approached the counter at the station watch house and, after being asked if he needed help, officers said he "poked the rear end of his body out" and broke wind. Senior Constable Shane Andrew Binns testified that Mr Grixti was staring right at him as he did this, and that his behaviour created a stench in the station. Senior Constable Binns said he called out to the author of the smell, but Mr Grixti simply looked at him and then walked away. A second witness, told the court he believed the "disgusting" act to have been deliberate. But the judge said there was no proof that this was true.
He ruled that breaking wind was "quite often involuntary". The fact that Mr Grixti bent over to make the situation "a little more comfortable" was not proof of intent to pass gas. "I don't believe... you can turn that particular piece of human behaviour on at will," the judge said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_1531000/1531005.stm
"I don't believe... you can turn that particular piece of human behaviour on at will," the judge said.
Come on judge...haven't you ever watched Howard Stern on cable?