Police fear mooning will undermine their authority
A court's been told the authority of police will be undermined if flashing buttocksat the law is ruled a legitimate political protest.
Brisbane man JAMES ALBERT ERNEST TOGO has pleaded not guilty in the Coolangatta MagistratesCourt to behaving in an indecent manner when he mooned a police car on August 12 thisyear.
20-year-old TOGO'S Aboriginal legal service lawyer EUGENE O'SULLIVAN has argued thatmooning police is a protest and should be protected under the implied freedoms of theConstitution.
Today police prosecutor MICHAEL PURCELL has argued the claim is bogus.
He's asked the court how someone exposing their buttocks can be deemed to be makingpublic comment or a political protest.
And he says if everyone's allowed to do that to police, their authority will be undermined.
Magistrate SHERYL CORNACK's reserved her decision to check the status of two appealsto the High Court which could test whether Queensland's Vagrants Gaming and Other OffencesAct infringes on freedom of speech and political comment.
A ruling is expected on February 11.
AAP RTV dp/jhm/gjr/rp
KEYWORD: MOON (GOLD COAST)
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