UK High Court Judges Can't Agree On Twitter Joke Issue, Require Rehearing Of The Case
from the a-complete-farce dept
Remember Paul Chambers? He's the UK accountant who was arrested for tweeting:"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!!"Overly serious law enforcement officials saw that as a terrorist threat. It's worth noting that airport officials didn't seem to think it was a serious threat, but understood that it was just a frustrated passenger venting. Still, the case went forward and he not only lost but then lost again on appeal. The case seems to get more farcical each level up the chain it goes. The latest is that, when the case got to the UK High Court, it was heard by two judges who couldn't come to agreement, so the whole appeal needs to be reheard with a three judge panel. Why they didn't do that the first time around is not explained.
Either way, it seems bizarre that tweeting an obvious joke should not only lead to convictions, but such a long and extended judicial process. Talk about creating chilling effects. The case has taken on lots of publicity in the UK, with a number of celebrities pledging support. The BBC article has a quote from Chambers' supporter comedian Al Murray, who found the whole situation laughably ridiculous:
"Paul's tweet has gone the full distance from joke to tragedy to farce via the High Court. We've all got our fingers crossed and will carry on fundraising."
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Filed Under: al murray, chilling effects, uk
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There would be a lot less grief if he added /sarcasm at the end of his tweet.
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violets are blue
talk badly about the king
we will arrest you.
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You have taken that dirty terrorist off the streets. He had the bomb, he had the chemicals...
Wait, he blew up his Twitter account with words?
He did nothing but vent frustration?
Well damn...
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Sticks and Stones
*I'm pretty sure thats how they want the saying to go
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Re:
Black Sheep
Have you anymore............???
Thats all i got
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Next day in the Lancet:
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Only censorship folks, censorhip by way of intimidation, why actively censor when you can make an example,
Watch what you say folks, choose your views, topics, and words, wisely, dont want the censorship parade, censoring your censorhip
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Re:
Not quite. There was an appeal to the High Court already, but a split decision, so it will be reheard by three judges.
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2012/05/twitter-joke-trial-appeal-no- decision
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/blog-post/2180598/split-decision-rehearing-twitter-j oke-trial-appeal
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Re: Re:
Thnx.
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Re: could it be?
mebee he's one of them thar Homer Sexuals or sumthin..
(Sorry I moved to Texas a few years ago)
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Re: Backbone
Alert politicians should be able to recognise this pattern easily and sack the perps promptly. That is why politicians are given power over bureaucrats. Alas, there is usually not the political will. When there is political will, it is just wonderful, malfunctioning bureaucrats lose their jobs straight away and it has a most salutary effect on the other bureaucrats. Unfortunately, the whole thing can then blow up as the opposition tries to make political capital over it. Hence the timidity of politicians. They should grow a backbone.
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Re: Re: Backbone
You used the B-word. Oh wow, are you in a whole world of hurt now.
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That's basically what this comes down to.
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Had this been in the US...
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This is them not letting go.
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Quoted tweet wrong
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Re:
dog damn ! i hates me all things Anderson ! ! !
if only we could rid ourselves of all the people with initials TA, *then* we'd be safe...
and -of course- i'm weally, weally serious, as you can *obviously* tell, 'cause you are unlike all the other nekkid apes on the planet who are not so sure...
*snicker*
art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof
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/uhm, that was a joke. a joke, hear me? /sarcasm /joke
Wait, that was a JOKE I swear! Don't extradite me to the UK! Please!
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