R. Richard
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2003
- Posts
- 10,382
Now here is a man who really knows how to express political protest! No faked documents, no lies, just banana creme and SMUSH!
CALGARY (CP) - A man who crammed a pie into the face of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein was sentenced to jail Monday, but he remained unrepentant about his right to use banana cream as a tool of political protest.
Christopher Geoghegan, a 25-year-old grocery store produce worker, was sentenced to 30 days, to be served on weekends, and three months probation. Provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk called the sentence appropriate "considering he is a youthful first offender and is gainfully employed."
But Geoghegan, who had pleaded guilty to assault earlier this year, appeared surprised and upset by the decision.
"It's the harshest sentence that has ever been doled out in the justice system," he told reporters outside court.
"The case precedent is to give a non-custodial sentence, and they've broken that now and set a higher bar to make an example, to stop this form of dissent."
Semenuk also ordered him not to have any contact with Klein or any member of the premier's family. Geoghegan (pronounced GAY-gun) is also not allowed within two blocks of Klein's home or McDougall Centre, the premier's Calgary office.
In addition, he must complete 40 hours of community service.
Geoghegan slammed the pie into Klein's face before television cameras and hundreds of people at the premier's annual Stampede pancake breakfast in July 2003.
At his sentencing hearing in August, Geoghegan said the pie attack was meant as a political protest and was not intended to hurt the premier.
On Monday he told reporters he wouldn't do it again but insisted on his right to criticize Klein's record.
"It would be ridiculous to follow that strategy again, but it happened," Geoghegan said. "I feel that he's unfit for social leadership.
"He doesn't care about the people that he governs. He cares about corporate rule. He cares more about crude oil than he does about people."
In his written decision, Semenuk said incarceration was necessary.
"I do not accept that the accused is a 'pacifist' as he claims to be," he wrote. "I can come to no other conclusion but that the accused, with his present attitude, continues to present himself as a danger to society, and particularly that segment of society that does not accord with his world views."
Klein spokesman Jim Law declined to comment on the sentence except to say, "In a democracy there are plenty of ways to express political opinions, but that definitely doesn't include the kind of assault this individual made."
CALGARY (CP) - A man who crammed a pie into the face of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein was sentenced to jail Monday, but he remained unrepentant about his right to use banana cream as a tool of political protest.
Christopher Geoghegan, a 25-year-old grocery store produce worker, was sentenced to 30 days, to be served on weekends, and three months probation. Provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk called the sentence appropriate "considering he is a youthful first offender and is gainfully employed."
But Geoghegan, who had pleaded guilty to assault earlier this year, appeared surprised and upset by the decision.
"It's the harshest sentence that has ever been doled out in the justice system," he told reporters outside court.
"The case precedent is to give a non-custodial sentence, and they've broken that now and set a higher bar to make an example, to stop this form of dissent."
Semenuk also ordered him not to have any contact with Klein or any member of the premier's family. Geoghegan (pronounced GAY-gun) is also not allowed within two blocks of Klein's home or McDougall Centre, the premier's Calgary office.
In addition, he must complete 40 hours of community service.
Geoghegan slammed the pie into Klein's face before television cameras and hundreds of people at the premier's annual Stampede pancake breakfast in July 2003.
At his sentencing hearing in August, Geoghegan said the pie attack was meant as a political protest and was not intended to hurt the premier.
On Monday he told reporters he wouldn't do it again but insisted on his right to criticize Klein's record.
"It would be ridiculous to follow that strategy again, but it happened," Geoghegan said. "I feel that he's unfit for social leadership.
"He doesn't care about the people that he governs. He cares about corporate rule. He cares more about crude oil than he does about people."
In his written decision, Semenuk said incarceration was necessary.
"I do not accept that the accused is a 'pacifist' as he claims to be," he wrote. "I can come to no other conclusion but that the accused, with his present attitude, continues to present himself as a danger to society, and particularly that segment of society that does not accord with his world views."
Klein spokesman Jim Law declined to comment on the sentence except to say, "In a democracy there are plenty of ways to express political opinions, but that definitely doesn't include the kind of assault this individual made."
