Protesters acquitted on loitering charges

Two men were acquitted yesterday of charges laid after they took part in a protest outside the Justice Department in Mitchell St in March.

Magistrate Greg Cavanagh dismissed refusing to cease loitering charges (sic) and found a charge of causing substantial annoyance not proved.

"Even if what you did cause some (sic) annoyance, I cannot be (sic) find that it was substantial," Mr Cavanagh said.

But he told Gary William Meyerhoff had he continued to use the megaphone for much longer than he did, he might have been found guilty of the annoyance charge.

Meyerhoff and Stuart Highway each pleaded not guilty to having failed to cease to loiter when requested by police at Darwin on March 22.

They pleaded not guilty, also to unreasonably causing substantial annoyance to another person (sic).

Mr Cavanagh, requested by the prosecution, issued a warrant for the arrest of a third man charged Robert Paul Inder-Smith, who did not appear.

The hearing, set down for two days, finished soon after the lunch break and before any defence witnesses were heard.

Mr Cavanagh did not think there was a case to answer on the loitering charge considering what the group did for 25 minutes, having forewarned the office (sic). He did find a case to answer on the second charge but did not think the annoyance was "substantial".

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Source: Northern Territory News
Pubdate: 15th August 2002
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2002 Northern Territory News