Uni Lecturer Gets Off after Punching Jetstar Crew.
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Uni Lecturer Gets Off after Punching Jetstar Crew.
Uni Lecturer Gets Off after Punching Jetstar Crew.
From the Age:
"Uni lecturer free over airport assault
November 27, 2007 - 3:14PM
A Sydney university lecturer who swore at a Jetstar employee and punched him in the face because she was late for her flight has escaped conviction.
Patricia McManus, 42, of Carlingford, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and swearing in a public place after an incident at Sydney's domestic airport last month.
McManus tried to check in 12 minutes before her Jetstar flight to Hervey Bay, Queensland, was scheduled to leave and started swearing at staff when told she was too late, according to a statement of facts.
McManus later punched the customer service manager twice in the face after he refused to let her back into the terminal.
Magistrate Lee Gilmour said she accepted McManus had acted out of character and was deeply stressed at the time of the offence.
"I understand how you got so angry ... (but) once you got over the initial shock of being denied access to the plane, you calmed down and police said you were extremely contrite," she said.
Ms Gilmour, who recently has come under media scrutiny over the leniency of the penalties she hands down, ordered McManus to pay $70 in court costs.
"At the risk of offending The Daily Telegraph and John Laws' talkback show, I do not need to record a conviction," she said.
"Just be careful, airports are very stressful places for a lot of people."
I guess it goes with the territory these days......
From the Age:
"Uni lecturer free over airport assault
November 27, 2007 - 3:14PM
A Sydney university lecturer who swore at a Jetstar employee and punched him in the face because she was late for her flight has escaped conviction.
Patricia McManus, 42, of Carlingford, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and swearing in a public place after an incident at Sydney's domestic airport last month.
McManus tried to check in 12 minutes before her Jetstar flight to Hervey Bay, Queensland, was scheduled to leave and started swearing at staff when told she was too late, according to a statement of facts.
McManus later punched the customer service manager twice in the face after he refused to let her back into the terminal.
Magistrate Lee Gilmour said she accepted McManus had acted out of character and was deeply stressed at the time of the offence.
"I understand how you got so angry ... (but) once you got over the initial shock of being denied access to the plane, you calmed down and police said you were extremely contrite," she said.
Ms Gilmour, who recently has come under media scrutiny over the leniency of the penalties she hands down, ordered McManus to pay $70 in court costs.
"At the risk of offending The Daily Telegraph and John Laws' talkback show, I do not need to record a conviction," she said.
"Just be careful, airports are very stressful places for a lot of people."
I guess it goes with the territory these days......
Nunc est bibendum
At least the staff know that if they now belt a passenger that they won't get a criminal record from it.......it's a stressful place after all.
Fair dinkum but how do fruit loops like this get onto the bench?!?!
Fair dinkum but how do fruit loops like this get onto the bench?!?!
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Armchair Jurists
Newspapers don't spoil good stories with the facts. Before passing judgment on the magistrate's, maybe it would be wise to read a full transcript of the proceedings and review the evidence before you comment on what the press has published.
Sprucegoose
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It's OK Mr Bin Liner, I won't be recording a conviction for your terrorist activities, I mean you were at the airport and we all know they can be such stressful places...
Where does the madness stop?
Where does the madness stop?
Wonder what the sentence would have been if it were a stay at home mother...
If the lady punched the guy OUTSIDE the terminal that means she was hostile enough to have been evicted from the terminal.
Wonder what would have happend if one of the professors students punched her in the face during uni exams... they are stressful after all!
If the lady punched the guy OUTSIDE the terminal that means she was hostile enough to have been evicted from the terminal.
Wonder what would have happend if one of the professors students punched her in the face during uni exams... they are stressful after all!
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Calm down guys!
"Calmed down; expressed contrition to the police" and pleaded guilty.
It's probably the right way to treat a first offender.
Not all bad (stupid) behaviour requires punishment. A ticking off will sometimes do it.
"Calmed down; expressed contrition to the police" and pleaded guilty.
It's probably the right way to treat a first offender.
Not all bad (stupid) behaviour requires punishment. A ticking off will sometimes do it.
Nunc est bibendum
So let me understand this correctly. We actually don't subscribe to the theory of 'zero tolerance'. It appears that we actually are prepared to tolerate assault as long as it's a 'stressful' situation. Personally i'd prefer to live in a society where everyone understood that it's actually not acceptable to flip your lid and resort to physical violence to solve the issues.
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Just Curious!
I wonder if the magistrate would have been as kind had the incident occurred in the air? I bet not, so when is assult acceptable?
Don't forget, flying can be stressful for some too!
BSB
Don't forget, flying can be stressful for some too!
BSB
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What a joke - imagine what would have happened if the JQ staff member touched her?
Airports are stressful places..........so does that mean all the staff can punch people? I can't believe she got away with that. The courts are a joke.
Airports are stressful places..........so does that mean all the staff can punch people? I can't believe she got away with that. The courts are a joke.
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Rather than paying an insignificant $70, as a fine, she could do 70 hrs community service, handling irate customers at the airport checkin... It is such a stressful place after all...
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Before passing judgment on the magistrate's, maybe it would be wise to read a full transcript of the proceedings and review the evidence before you comment on what the press has published.
People have bad days all the time. Very few of those punch people in the face. May i add that in certain unfortunate circumstances people have died from this.
Highly reccomend passing this persons name to the relevant manager where you work so she can be blacklisted. The 70 bucks won't hurt, but tell you what, not being able to fly anywhere in Australia indefinitely certainly will.
Enoughs enough.
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Keg Absolutely do not subscribe to "zero tolerance". Most of those who use the term sound like the leaders of the lynch mob to me. (And I don't think you are one of them)
That aside, this idiot did not get off scot free. She was arrested, charged, went to court and we are discussing her here.
My post was intended to say that I found that an adequate outcome.
That aside, this idiot did not get off scot free. She was arrested, charged, went to court and we are discussing her here.
My post was intended to say that I found that an adequate outcome.
Mmm!!!
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Originally Posted by wod
It's probably the right way to treat a first offender.
Not all bad (stupid) behaviour requires punishment. A ticking off will sometimes do it.
Not all bad (stupid) behaviour requires punishment. A ticking off will sometimes do it.
A $70 fine and the "inconvenience" of having to appear in court is not nearly sufficient. You say you are quite happy with the process thats taken place... what if it were you or your wife/husband or your kid or your parent that was punched in the face twice for NO reason whatsoever? I doubt you would be as forgiving then...
I wonder if this offence could actually be classified under the CAO's/CAR's as violence against an airline officer? Although I guess Magistrate Forgive-a-lot wouldn't care anyway
