Saudi Arabia v Wales
A popular Saudi blogger who was detained by the authorities in December has been set free. Fouad al-Farhan had used his website to criticise alleged corruption and call for democratic reforms in his country. No official explanation was given for either the detention or the decision to free him
Meanwhile Wales …
A blogger who "let off steam" about the way he was treated by police has been convicted of posting a grossly offensive and menacing message
Now there is no doubt in my mind that Gavin Brent is a very unpleasant piece of work who deserves everything he is due
In February, Brent was charged with 19 offences of theft and two charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act involving internet purchases. The court heard how detective constable Steve Lloyd conducted interviews, but was not present when Brent was charged because his wife was having a baby.
Prosecutor Liz Bell said someone unfortunately told Brent why the officer was absent. Brent then ranted about his perceived mis-treatment at the hands of police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). His posting ended: "P.S. - D.C. Lloyd, God help your new-born baby".
but when our much vaunted judicial system starts to behave like the Saudi authorities, forget the fact the average price of petrol is now £5 a gallon, you know its time to leave
Comments
What annoyed me was that the magistrates said that "any reasonable person" would interpret that line as a threat, but my interpretation was different - it's a standard rubbish thing that angry people say meaning "you are a rubbish person, I pity anyone who has you for a father".
Posted by: Keir Hardie | April 30, 2008 2:11 PM
Well, Keir, it's like this: If we match the Magistrate's judgement of "any reasonable person" vs. "my interpretation is differrent" the logical conclusion is that you are not a reasonable person. Case closed.
Posted by: Max | May 1, 2008 12:18 AM
How long before the knock on the door of FM Towers in BATF style David Koresh negotiations by Wiltshire plod for perceived threats to the electoral process? Like the scrote or not his only crime was to (in reality) name a public servant being over zealous. Now if that was in print in a newspaper he could have got away with it? (ok he did castigate and cast aspersions but thats hardly threatening compared to whats typed by 12 year olds every minute on the net, besides threatening a witness in wales? Its all perception and sheeps heads in beds!)
Time for a freedom of the press to apply to the T'internet or are we going all Beiijing in prep for 2012?
Posted by: TimC | May 2, 2008 9:31 AM