2 February 2011

Hammer Time at the High Court

| johnboy
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The ABC has a snippet over a nutter with a grievance taking to the High Court with a hammer:

ACT police say a man used a hammer to smash 13 windows at the High Court in Canberra.

Police arrested the man outside the court this afternoon.

He has been charged with damaging Commonwealth property and possessing an offensive weapon.

Crazies are surely a forseeable hazard for the nation’s highest court?

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bigfeet said :

spinact said :

If the defensive weapon is offensive and is used in an offence then it is considered offensive and therefor an offence. However if used in defence then it’s and is not considered offensive it is therefor not an offence to use it defensively………………unless someone finds it offensive…………….

So what you are saying is that it would be a legitimate defence to the offence of possess an offensive weapon if the offender claimed that they were acting in self defense against an offensive person using a defensive weapon offensively against them?

……….yeah…………….unless it’s defensively……….offensive………..or something

Mental Health Worker9:26 pm 03 Feb 11

as any fule kno, this was a protest by an Egyptian citizen who couldn’t get to Cairo or Alexandria.

You get the mental health system you vote for, and allowing someone to avoid treatment by simply crossing a state line (or worse – in NSW you just have to travel to an other town and the “system” loses you), means the High Court is going to have to instal stronger windows.

MHW

Dammit. Quote fail.

spinact said :

trevar said :

Possessing an offensive weapon is an offence? I’ have assumed you’d have to be using an offensive weapon for it to be an offence. Is possessing a defensive weapon an offence?

I have no reason for asking. Honestly; I’m just curious… It’s not as if I own any hammers… Sheesh, what do you think I am? A hammer-owning maniac?

Ha!

If the defensive weapon is offensive and is used in an offence then it is considered offensive and therefor an offence. However if used in defence then it’s and is not considered offensive it is therefor not an offence to use it defensively………………unless someone finds it offensive…………….

spinact said :

If the defensive weapon is offensive and is used in an offence then it is considered offensive and therefor an offence. However if used in defence then it’s and is not considered offensive it is therefor not an offence to use it defensively………………unless someone finds it offensive…………….

So what you are saying is that it would be a legitimate defence to the offence of possess an offensive weapon if the offender claimed that they were acting in self defense against an offensive person using a defensive weapon offensively against them?

trevar said :

Possessing an offensive weapon is an offence? I’ have assumed you’d have to be using an offensive weapon for it to be an offence. Is possessing a defensive weapon an offence?

I have no reason for asking. Honestly; I’m just curious… It’s not as if I own any hammers… Sheesh, what do you think I am? A hammer-owning maniac?

If the defensive weapon is offensive and is used in an offence then it is considered offensive and therefor an offence. However if used in defence then it’s and is not considered offensive it is therefor not an offence to use it defensively………………unless someone finds it offensive…………….

Apparently the courtrooms were locked down when this guy was noticed by security, but he then decided to take out his rage on the windows. Maybe the Federal Government will find more money for security at the court after this incident…..

trevar said :

Possessing an offensive weapon is an offence? I’ have assumed you’d have to be using an offensive weapon for it to be an offence. Is possessing a defensive weapon an offence?

I have no reason for asking. Honestly; I’m just curious… It’s not as if I own any hammers… Sheesh, what do you think I am? A hammer-owning maniac?

Possessing an offensive weapon in a public place in circumstances likely to cause alarm and without reasonable excuse is an offence. [i]Crimes Act 1900[/i] (ACT) s 380.

Maybe it had a lewd slogan written on the handle.

Holden Caulfield4:00 pm 02 Feb 11

Did they say to him “You can’t touch this”?

Well, I guess that answers the question about whether the high courts windows are bullet proof. I have no reason for asking. Honestly; I’m just curious…

Possessing an offensive weapon is an offence? I’ have assumed you’d have to be using an offensive weapon for it to be an offence. Is possessing a defensive weapon an offence?

I have no reason for asking. Honestly; I’m just curious… It’s not as if I own any hammers… Sheesh, what do you think I am? A hammer-owning maniac?

Bet this is the same guy who smashed all those windows at Civic Square on London Circuit a few years back.
Oh well, just put him back on the meds and ask him not to do it anymore (til next time).

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