Australian magistrate acquits speeder

Cmar-Ireland

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1118/australia_speed.html

An Australian magistrate who admitted being a fan of the 'Top Gear' show has acquitted a Lamborghini-driving mechanic of speeding over a lack of evidence.
Magistrate Michael Wheeler disputed a policeman's evidence that he could gauge the 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo was topping 155km/h a Perth highway, as he followed in a Ford Falcon patrol car.
'With no disrespect to the Ford Falcon could it cut the mustard with the Lamborghini being driven by the accused?' he said, according to AAP news agency.
'It couldn't even catch my car, in all honesty.'
Senior Constable Michael Brent had told Perth Magistrates Court he reached speeds of 160km/h as he tried to keep up with the bright yellow supercar 53-year-old mechanic Leone Antonino Magistro was driving to a workshop.
But Mr Wheeler said the 'bog standard' police car was between 100 and 200 metres behind, making it impossible to 'guesstimate' the Lamborghini's speed.
Before handing down his judgment, Mr Wheeler told the court he was a keen car enthusiast and had watched an edition of the BBC's 'Top Gear' featuring the Gallardo a day before the hearing.
'I have to confess, I'm a Top Gear tragic and know so much useless information about (the 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo) I have to disregard,' he said.
'I know (that) in 2006 Top Gear named the Lamborghini Gallardo as the dream car of the year. Jeremy Clarkson bought one, in fact, in 2006,' he added, referring to Top Gear's host.
Mr Wheeler awarded Magistro Aus$18,000 (€12,500) in costs, and commented that Mr Brent would have expected to be given a faster police car when he emigrated from Britain.
'He would have thought he'd never find himself driving a bog standard Ford Falcon when he came to Australia but I suppose that's what bean counters do,' he said.

Anan1

wrote:

Before handing down his judgment, Mr Wheeler told the court he was a keen car enthusiast and had watched an edition of the BBC's 'Top Gear' featuring the Gallardo a day before the hearing.

What a fool.

djimi

Surely the cop car wouldnt have to keep pace with the Lambo; just be able to say I was driving at Xmph (the speed limit) and the car in question was pulling away from me, ergo they were breaking the speed limit?

Absurdum

155 km/h on a highway in a Lambo? wtf is wrong with him :eek:

Jumpy

One thing to note is that "bog standard" police cars in Australia are usually highly tuned Commodore or Falcon 5 litre V8s

Mr Benevolent

Absurdum wrote: »

155 km/h on a highway in a Lambo? wtf is wrong with him :eek:

Agreed. 155kph is far too slow

Australian courts are weird. One woman was completely exonerated of murdering her husband even though she gave evidence of her deliberately pulling the trigger. Twice. There were very bad extenuating circumstances though, but it makes me nervous about going back to Australia.

keithclancy

Absurdum wrote: »

155 km/h on a highway in a Lambo? wtf is wrong with him :eek:

Yeah .. I was smoked this morning by a Porsche doing well over 200km/h

Cuddlesworth

That must be in mph, there is no way a 5litre engine tops out at 160kph.

Matt Simis

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

That must be in mph, there is no way a 5litre engine tops out at 160kph.

No Oz uses Kph, but the article is full of confusing and bizarre facts and figures that it makes no sense indeed, no way a 5.0 V8 Police Interceptor couldnt break 96mph.

Absurdum wrote: »

155 km/h on a highway in a Lambo? wtf is wrong with him :eek:

96mph? People do that here in D4D Avensis on motorways with no drama.

Fizman

The Top Gear fan who let the guy off has a surname 'Wheeler', and the guy who was let off by this magistrate has a surname 'Magistro'?

Riiiiiight.

L1011

Fizman wrote: »

The Top Gear fan who let the guy off has a surname 'Wheeler', and the guy who was let off by this magistrate has a surname 'Magistro'?

Riiiiiight.

Other way around. Magistrate is Wheeler.