WA: Protestor brought shame to Australia: magistrate says

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2006
WA: Protestor brought shame to Australia: magistrate says

A Perth magistrate has described an organiser of a violent protest in which JOHN HOWARD's
car was damaged .. as a moron who's brought shame to Australia.

20 year old RAYMOND ALFRED GRENFELL has pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court
to a charge of obstructing police.

GRENFELL .. a university philosophy student .. was among a group of about 200 people
who gathered on Saturday outside the WA Liberal Party state conference in Perth to demonstrate
against the war in Lebanon.

Police allege GRENFELL grabbed the arm of a police officer to prevent him from arresting
another protester.

GRENFELL's lawyer DOMINIC MCKENNA said his client had acted on instinct and gone to
the aid of another person whose face was being pushed into the concrete.

Mr MCKENNA said his client was a person of good character who was not violent.

But Magistrate PAUL HEANEY said GRENFELL's actions had tarnished what was a peaceful march.

Magistrate HEANEY described GRENFELL and another protester .. WADE CHRISTIAN MCDONALD
.. who was yesterday fined 600 dollars after pleading guilty to throwing himself on the
prime minister's car .. as a couple of morons.

He fined Grenfell 400 dollars .. plus court costs of 55 dollars-50.

Another protester .. MATTHEW RAYMOND DAVIS .. also appeared in the Perth Magistrates
Court today charged with assaulting a public officer.

He was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned until September 12.

AAP RTV den/ag/crh/bart

KEYWORD: GRENFELL (PERTH)

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