When is a murder not a murder? When it’s a manslaughter. And when it’s not a manslaughter? It’s a sad day for the DPP.
On Boxing day 2003 in the Southside Caravan Park two drunken mates got in a fight to the death over a broken beer stein. Yesterday the winner walked out of court a free man being cleared of all charges. The story, and it’s a good read, can be found here care of the CT.
The bits that interest me, near the end of the article, is that good old Chief Justice Higgins refused the defendant’s, Mr Cook’s, plea to manslaughter because he couldn’t understand the Crown’s case. The case went to trial before Justice Crispin who cleared Cook due to their not being enough evidence to prove either murder or manslaughter.
And the thing to learn from this kiddies? All deaths in the ACT are accidental. Just ask the Saudi diplomatic corps.