Slashdot Mirror
Sci-Fi Writer Peter Watts Convicted of Assault
SJrX writes "CBC news is reporting that Peter Watts has indeed been convicted of Assaulting border guards, (discussed here). He will be sentenced April 26th."
← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)
whilst people should not be unreasonably searched leaving a country (after all, who cares?) attempting to strangle a police officer is a serious offence! (the evidence would not be in his favour; there are cameras everywhere at border patrol)
FTFA: "Jones said that the officers ordered Watts back into the vehicle, and when he refused, they tried to handcuff him. He said a scuffle ensued in which Watts choked one of the officers, and an officer used pepper spray to subdue him." Gee, I don't really see how this is a big deal. He was pissed off that they searched his car - what else did he expect at a border crossing? Did he try to contact someone in the Canadian government because something wasn't right? No! Sounds like he was being an asshole for getting searched - duh! Being pissed off in front of border guards anywhere in the world draws attention and you leave yourself open for whatever.
No, he was told to get back in his car, twice. He refused. At that point, they tried to arrest him, he got into his car (too late Chuckles), yadda yadda yadda.
He was given two chances to comply. It was only when they went to cuff him that he "obeyed." And the story is wrong - he was not convicted of assault, just disobeying a lawful order.
It's not a question of who said what ... the jurors saw the video. They convicted. End of story.
It’s not hate. It’s a fact.
You should be ashamed for protecting those criminals with a badge, just out of some pointless over-the-top national pride. If you hadn’t proven with your comment, that you are American, I’d sad you’re French. There’s no big difference in national pride + arrogance anyway.
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
The jury saw a video of the complete thing. They convicted him after seeing the video. How is that hysterical, except maybe "hysterical-funny" that he thought he could argue his way out of it with it all caught on camera?
You've got several cops and two other people, all giving contradictory evidence. Then you have a video. The video makes it clear to the jury that Watts was guilty, so they convict, even though they don't like the way the police handled it after they see Watts initial refusal to get into his car, which is what started it all.