Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Wen shoe thrower: Not guilty plea


The student protester accused of throwing a shoe at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Cambridge pleaded not guilty to a public order offence on Tuesday, and his case was adjourned until March 10.

1 comment:

Guanyu said...

Wen shoe thrower: Not guilty plea

AFP
10 February 2009

CAMBRIDGE - The student protester accused of throwing a shoe at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Cambridge pleaded not guilty to a public order offence on Tuesday, and his case was adjourned until March 10.

Martin Jahnke, a 27-year-old German student at Cambridge University, spoke only to confirm his name and address, and to enter his plea at a court in the city, where the protest occurred last Monday.

He was arrested following the protest last Monday, as Mr. Wen gave a speech on the final day of his three-day trip to Britain.

Jahnke - wearing a black suit, black slip-on shoes, and a blue shirt - was given unconditional bail. He indicated that he understood that if he did not appear in court on March 10 he would be committing an imprisonable offence.

During the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes, prosecutors asked for the four-week adjournment to gather more evidence, including video footage.

The hearing was attended notably by Chinese and German media.

Jahnke is accused of using ‘threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or to provoke violence’, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, Britain’s official prosecuting body.

If found guilty, he could face six months in prison and a 5,000-pound (S$11,000) fine.

Jahnke also faces the prospect of disciplinary action by the authorities at the university, where he reportedly carries out important genetic research into debilitating diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

The university said a complaint had been made and it was being looked into.