http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8582478.stm

How disappointing that the police officer accused of assaulting a G20 protestor (the incident infamously caught on TV cameras) has resorted to a pathetic excuse that he "thought a carton of orange juice in her hand was a weapon".

Have a look at the video again. Isn't that a rubbish defence?

Come on, Officer Smellie, just admit that you gave shrieking hippy exactly what she deserved.

Surely, then, that will give all chavs an excuse for accosting people with a carton of orange juice in their hands?

Edit: I've just noticed that the verdict hasn't been given yet. Here's hoping he gets convicted.

That does seem a rubbish defence, I don't suppose anyone involved believes it.

Wasnt there a python sketch where soldiers "armed" with fruit were shot by an overenthusiastic authority figure? Life imitating art perhaps?

For some reason the classic "Constable Savage" NTNoCN sketch comes to mind, although its entirely inappropriate to this thread!

I hope he's convicted too - beating a girl half his size with a stick; jeez some hardened copper that is. I guess we should be thankful they weren't armed with tazers on that occasion.

Was the orange juice organic/fairtrade?

The following quote conjures up a certain stereotype.....

The court head Ms Fisher, of Brighton, was depressed and "unwilling" to attend proceedings over fears the defence would focus on her lifestyle and background.

It will be interesting to see if this goes anywhere due to the last few paragraphs stating the victim would not attend court. If it was any other case it would be thrown out straight away!

"The court head Ms Fisher, of Brighton, was depressed and "unwilling" to attend proceedings over fears the defence would focus on her lifestyle and background.

District Judge Daphne Wickham ruled her statement to independent investigators could not be admitted in evidence, but turned down an application by the defence to throw out the case."

Tim

Her concerns were valid. The prosecution doesn't need her evidence - he's bang to rights in the video.

Nonsense. The officer was just dong his duty to protect the elite against a carton of orange juice.

He may appear to be bang to rights in the video but the copper has been charged with common assault which means that the person he hit is the victim.

Normally at court when the victim fails to turn up for whatever reason the case is simply thrown out.

Tim

there is another side to this. firstly the complainant/aggrieved party and witness is not willing to appear and the statement she submitted will not be presented in evidence. yet the trial goes ahead? i sincerely doubt this would be the case in any other arena apart from a very public trial of a police officer.
now thats not saying i don't believe the police should be held to higher account, because i do. however, you can't have one set of trial rules for the general population and another for the police.

on the orange juice thing, yes that does sound like bollox, however again, the court has ruled all his actions up until this point lawful, so it begs the point if he was acting lawfully up until this point are we are quibbling over a very very fine line in the heat of the moment. i'm not saying he should not be held accountable, but how would you feel if you were about to lose your job, pension, house, relationship all for what appears to be a minor error of judgement under extreme pressure. cops are human you know, sometimes we get it wrong, this is when i object to a public lynching. though i appreciate he appears not to be helping with this defence.

Err, I rather suspect it would be the case anyway if the assault was recorded live like this one. The flip side is if that hadn't been the case, the complainant could show up as often as she liked but a complaint against a policeman would never have a chance.

One should try not to judge people by appearances.

It was a container of acid.








ascorbic acid

Was she in possesion of thick lips and wearing a loud shirt in a built-up area?