Post by wheelspinner on Jun 2, 2011 4:05:50 GMT -5
Here's another entry for my How Dumb Can People Be? file.
Fears for Burnley Tunnel skateboarder after bizarre courtroom twist
Mex Cooper
June 2, 2011 - 5:31PM
A magistrate has questioned the mental wellbeing of a Swiss tourist who skateboarded through the Burnley Tunnel during peak-hour this morning.
Dominic Emmenegger, 21, pleaded guilty to one charge of reckless conduct endangering serious injury in the Melbourne Magistrates Court after riding through the busy tunnel just after 7.30am.
The court heard cars had been forced to swerve to miss Emmenegger as he sped through the tunnel while listening to AC/DC.
The driver of a B-double semi-trailer nearly smashed into other vehicles when he braked heavily to avoid hitting Emmenegger when he fell from his board.
Emmenegger was injured during the fall and had cuts to his hands treated at The Alfred hospital.
Emmenegger, an IBM employee from Zurich, has been backpacking in Australia since January and had planned to fly home in two weeks.
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The court heard he showed no remorse during a police interview and told officers he had to keep appointments with television reporters.
But Cecily Hollingworth, for Emmenegger, said he wanted to apologise for causing traffic chaos.
"He’s sorry for any shock or upset he’s caused to other people in the tunnel, particularly the truck driver," she said. "He has asked me to express his apologies to everyone involved."
Deputy chief magistrate Jelena Popovic wasn’t convinced, saying Emmenegger appeared "vacant" during the court proceeding.
The Swiss tourist smiled throughout the hearing, chatted to security guards and fiddled with furniture in the dock, incensing Ms Popovic who asked if he thought the charge against him was a joke.
"I’m not sure to what degree your client has engaged in this behaviour in some kind of bravado that’s going to result in a great deal of publicity and if it’s akin to the planking phenomenon," Ms Popovic said to Ms Hollingworth.
"I’m really not sure that your client is behaving in a rational way."
When Emmenegger said "that’s cool", Ms Popovic lost hers.
"Is this how you talk to the judge in Switzerland?," she asked him.
Emmenegger, with a shaved head and wearing a red and white check shirt, black glasses and with plasters on his hands, seemed unfussed when the court heard the charge attracted a maximum jail term of five years.
Ms Popovic adjourned the case for 14 days to see how Emmenegger behaved and whether he had any mental health issues.
Emmenegger was bailed and ordered to hand over his passport and report daily to police. Police prosecutor Andrew McSwain requested the skateboard be confiscated and destroyed.
"That’s good, that’s all right," Emmenegger said at the end of the hearing.
Read more: www.theage.com.au/victoria/fears-for-burnley-tunnel-skateboarder-after-bizarre-courtroom-twist-20110602-1fi3f.html#ixzz1O6jqaO6Q
Fears for Burnley Tunnel skateboarder after bizarre courtroom twist
Mex Cooper
June 2, 2011 - 5:31PM
A magistrate has questioned the mental wellbeing of a Swiss tourist who skateboarded through the Burnley Tunnel during peak-hour this morning.
Dominic Emmenegger, 21, pleaded guilty to one charge of reckless conduct endangering serious injury in the Melbourne Magistrates Court after riding through the busy tunnel just after 7.30am.
The court heard cars had been forced to swerve to miss Emmenegger as he sped through the tunnel while listening to AC/DC.
The driver of a B-double semi-trailer nearly smashed into other vehicles when he braked heavily to avoid hitting Emmenegger when he fell from his board.
Emmenegger was injured during the fall and had cuts to his hands treated at The Alfred hospital.
Emmenegger, an IBM employee from Zurich, has been backpacking in Australia since January and had planned to fly home in two weeks.
.
The court heard he showed no remorse during a police interview and told officers he had to keep appointments with television reporters.
But Cecily Hollingworth, for Emmenegger, said he wanted to apologise for causing traffic chaos.
"He’s sorry for any shock or upset he’s caused to other people in the tunnel, particularly the truck driver," she said. "He has asked me to express his apologies to everyone involved."
Deputy chief magistrate Jelena Popovic wasn’t convinced, saying Emmenegger appeared "vacant" during the court proceeding.
The Swiss tourist smiled throughout the hearing, chatted to security guards and fiddled with furniture in the dock, incensing Ms Popovic who asked if he thought the charge against him was a joke.
"I’m not sure to what degree your client has engaged in this behaviour in some kind of bravado that’s going to result in a great deal of publicity and if it’s akin to the planking phenomenon," Ms Popovic said to Ms Hollingworth.
"I’m really not sure that your client is behaving in a rational way."
When Emmenegger said "that’s cool", Ms Popovic lost hers.
"Is this how you talk to the judge in Switzerland?," she asked him.
Emmenegger, with a shaved head and wearing a red and white check shirt, black glasses and with plasters on his hands, seemed unfussed when the court heard the charge attracted a maximum jail term of five years.
Ms Popovic adjourned the case for 14 days to see how Emmenegger behaved and whether he had any mental health issues.
Emmenegger was bailed and ordered to hand over his passport and report daily to police. Police prosecutor Andrew McSwain requested the skateboard be confiscated and destroyed.
"That’s good, that’s all right," Emmenegger said at the end of the hearing.
Read more: www.theage.com.au/victoria/fears-for-burnley-tunnel-skateboarder-after-bizarre-courtroom-twist-20110602-1fi3f.html#ixzz1O6jqaO6Q
