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"Bomb Threat" Tweet Conviction Overturned By UK Appeals Court

Posted by timothy on from the hope-he-sends-some-celebratory-tweets dept.

New submitter Kupfernigk writes "Paul Chambers was the man who was convicted (in England) of a terrorist offense based on a tweet threatening to 'blow up' Robin Hood Airport because they couldn't get snow cleared. Despite the fact that it was obviously a (feeble) joke, the Crown Prosecution Service actually went ahead with a prosecution and were able to convince a junior judge sitting with magistrates. The senior judges, including the Lord Chief Justice, said 'We have concluded that, on an objective assessment, the decision of the Crown Court that this 'tweet' constituted or included a message of a menacing character was not open to it. On this basis, the appeal against conviction must be allowed.' In effect, they have said that the original decision was not made objectively, which can be considered a severe slap for the Crown Prosecutor."

7 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. and... by oPless · · Score: 4, Funny

    A well deserved slap too.

    1. Re:and... by stanlyb · · Score: 3, Funny

      Where is this slap applied to? Back of the neck, or the bottom....or the left chin, like in the "Rock'N'Rolla" movie..

  2. Best Quote Ever by Infiniti2000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "It's Twitter, remember, not the pub!"

  3. Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge by Halo1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    FTA:

    Today, Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, [..], said: ”We have concluded that, on an objective assessment, the decision of the Crown Court that this 'tweet' constituted or included a message of a menacing character was not open to it."

    When it's no longer clear where your title ends and your name starts, you've definitely found the right profession.

    --
    Donate free food here
    1. Re:Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge by Trepidity · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh man, Igor Judge, Baron Judge is one of the better names for a judge in history. He could be a comic-book character with that name!

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  4. Re:Extradite him to USA by Tapewolf · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe he can be extradited to USA to face proper conviction after a brief tour in Guantanamo?

    The Crown Prosecutor? Sounds like a plan.

  5. Re:Whoa by safetyinnumbers · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wait, there's a "Robin Hood Airport"? And we can't even get an "Elvis Presley International Airport" and he was a real guy.

    It's usual to only name buildings after people who are dead.