Man's farting conviction overturned

Ananova ^ | 09:45 Thursday 6th September 2001 | no journalist would put their name on this puppy!

[SERE_DOC]

An Australian man who broke wind in the foyer of a Melbourne police station has had his conviction for offensive behaviour overturned.

David Grixti had been fined $200, the equivalent of £71, by a court in June.

He broke wind in the station after being arrested for drinking offences.

The decision was appealed to the Victorian County Court, which has found him not guilty. The prosecution couldn't establish flatulence was a voluntary act.

A local legal services manager criticised police for taking action against Mr Grixti, saying it was absurd a natural bodily function was criminalised.

Police have refused to comment, reports the news.com website.

[SERE_DOC]

I know, I know this is not what one call breaking news, but in a way it is a breaking story for the FFA (fee flatulence assn)

[zeromus]

uhm. i can think of a lot of natural body functions that have been criminalized, depending on where you do it.

[Michael Barnes]

yeah..something was breaking with the story...breaking wind

[mgc1122]

It was either that or explode I guess ... LOL!

[A CA Guy]

Don't want to be down wind when this gets out! LOL

[headsonpikes]

I disagree; if this isn't 'breaking news', nothing is.

[pabianice]

They wouldn't have been able to produce evidence, anyway...

[smith288]

As funny as this story is... Jim R. will pull it most likely. Very witty though!

[JAWs]

I ought to bean you for that!

[A CA Guy]

Hope he doesn't pull it because it is harmless fun!

[snopercod]

Something smells about this verdict...

[Libertina]

Thank goodness, or we'd all be in trouble! LOL

[mo'shea]

I believe that the police officer who arrested Mr. Grixti pulled the latter's finger immediately prior to the incident, so he's the one who should have been charged, at least as an accessory.

[Silly]

They wouldn't have been able to produce evidence, anyway...

My brother and I used to "eff" into a Mason jar, close the lid, and ask my girl cousins and sisters to smell it, which they did. They would run screaming from the room. We all still laugh when we think about it.

So if you can't "can" it, you can at least "bottle" it. But don't expect to make a fortune.

[Poohbah]

But it IS breaking news...in a sense...

[lovecraft]

If he didn't sh!t - you must acquit!!!!

[verity]

"David Grixti had been fined $200, the equivalent of £71, by a court in June."

Under the old British monetary system, this would have been equivalent to 80,000 farthings. lol

[Russ]

Another example of hot air on Free Republic...

[Redcloak]

I am relieved to learn this.

[Brett66]

Well I hope he produced a thank-you fart for the judge on his way out of the court room.