Menu
27/06/2012
Airport Bomb 'Joke' Man In Court
Stephen Fry has been to court to back a man who tweeted a joke about blowing up an airport.
Mr Fry and fellow comedian Al Murray went to the High Court to support an accountant who was fined £385 and charged court costs of £600 for sending "a menacing electronic communication".
Paul Chambers, 27, is seeking to have his conviction, from Doncaster Magistrates' Court, overturned.
He said he sent the tweet to his 600 followers in a moment of frustration after Robin Hood Airport in South Yorkshire was closed by snow in January 2010, and never thought anyone would take his ''silly joke'' seriously.
It read: ''Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!''
But, in November 2010, Crown Court judge Jacqueline Davies, sitting with two magistrates, dismissed his appeal, saying that airport staff were sufficiently concerned to report his "clearly menacing" message.
Mr Chambers's lawyer, John Cooper QC, is challenging the conviction on a legal technicality.
He says a threat can only be "menacing" with specific intent for a particular person, but Mr Chambers's tweet was sent to 600 people.
He told the hearing: "At worst, the tweet was offensive."
Mr Fry, a prolific Twitter user, said the hearing was "very important" for freedom of speech.
(NE)
Mr Fry and fellow comedian Al Murray went to the High Court to support an accountant who was fined £385 and charged court costs of £600 for sending "a menacing electronic communication".
Paul Chambers, 27, is seeking to have his conviction, from Doncaster Magistrates' Court, overturned.
He said he sent the tweet to his 600 followers in a moment of frustration after Robin Hood Airport in South Yorkshire was closed by snow in January 2010, and never thought anyone would take his ''silly joke'' seriously.
It read: ''Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!''
But, in November 2010, Crown Court judge Jacqueline Davies, sitting with two magistrates, dismissed his appeal, saying that airport staff were sufficiently concerned to report his "clearly menacing" message.
Mr Chambers's lawyer, John Cooper QC, is challenging the conviction on a legal technicality.
He says a threat can only be "menacing" with specific intent for a particular person, but Mr Chambers's tweet was sent to 600 people.
He told the hearing: "At worst, the tweet was offensive."
Mr Fry, a prolific Twitter user, said the hearing was "very important" for freedom of speech.
(NE)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 October 2009
Crackdown On Fine Dodgers
Six hundred of the Scotland's 'worst fine dodgers' are being targeted in a crackdown by the Scottish Court Service on those who attempt to 'avoid the ends of justice'.
Crackdown On Fine Dodgers
Six hundred of the Scotland's 'worst fine dodgers' are being targeted in a crackdown by the Scottish Court Service on those who attempt to 'avoid the ends of justice'.
02 March 2005
MPs recommend changes for child access system
A report by the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee has called for more child access cases to be dealt with through mediation, not through the court system.
MPs recommend changes for child access system
A report by the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee has called for more child access cases to be dealt with through mediation, not through the court system.
12 February 2004
Former US Marine admits abducting teenager
A former US Marine has pleaded guilty to charges of abducting a Manchester schoolgirl in July last year. Toby Studabaker (32), from Michigan, USA, pleaded guilty to charges of abduction and gross indecency at his trial in Manchester Crown Court today.
Former US Marine admits abducting teenager
A former US Marine has pleaded guilty to charges of abducting a Manchester schoolgirl in July last year. Toby Studabaker (32), from Michigan, USA, pleaded guilty to charges of abduction and gross indecency at his trial in Manchester Crown Court today.
12 January 2004
Three in court charged with airport murder
Three men have appeared in court today charged with the murder of a 57-year-old man outside Liverpool airport last Tuesday.
Three in court charged with airport murder
Three men have appeared in court today charged with the murder of a 57-year-old man outside Liverpool airport last Tuesday.
29 March 2007
Man jailed for monkey theft
A man has been jailed for 12 months for stealing a rare squirrel monkey from Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey. Marlon Brown, 23, was part of a group that stole Spongebob, an endangered Bolivian squirrel monkey, from the monkey enclosure at the theme park last July. He had denied stealing Spongebob but his DNA was found in the cage.
Man jailed for monkey theft
A man has been jailed for 12 months for stealing a rare squirrel monkey from Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey. Marlon Brown, 23, was part of a group that stole Spongebob, an endangered Bolivian squirrel monkey, from the monkey enclosure at the theme park last July. He had denied stealing Spongebob but his DNA was found in the cage.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with clear skies this evening. Patchy cloud will increase at times overnight, but some clear spells too. Light winds and some patchy shallow mist or fog towards dawn. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
