MERGED: Pilot alleged to have sabotaged engines on his rival's aircraft
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Nothing new.
It's been going on for decades.
My Cessna 210 was sabotaged in the early 90's in Darwin by competition back out in Arnhem Land.
Federal Police called, persons found culpable and many fingers pointed but no prosecution so, much like the Aussie Labour socialists & "Democrats" of the USA... plenty of damage caused and costs, but no apologie or accountability from the guilty parties but yet reputations sullied! Pathetic and disgraceful. Karma!
Sound familiar in Australia?
It's been going on for decades.
My Cessna 210 was sabotaged in the early 90's in Darwin by competition back out in Arnhem Land.
Federal Police called, persons found culpable and many fingers pointed but no prosecution so, much like the Aussie Labour socialists & "Democrats" of the USA... plenty of damage caused and costs, but no apologie or accountability from the guilty parties but yet reputations sullied! Pathetic and disgraceful. Karma!
Sound familiar in Australia?
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The last news item of April 11, 2018
Quote:
Quote:
" In August of last year the prosecution was given eight weeks to detail which evidence applied to which charges, to allow Mr Hoch to understand what crimes he had been accused of.
Eight months later, the defence team still does not have a clear way to navigate the 49,000 plus pages of evidence. "
Has anyone got any news? When the prosecution can't deliver disclosure or, when the disclosure is extremely large and indecipherable it generally means the charges were trumped up.
Then his lawyer says
"Mr Hoch’s lawyer said the was “not one scrap of forensic evidence trying Mr Hoch to the charges” and the case was “circumstantial”.
I can't recall a similar case where a pilot was charged with so many offences and the defense lawyer says "they don't have a scrap of forensic evidence".
There was supposedly a court date of June 13, 2018, Does anyone know what happened?
Is this story subject to some kind of publicity ban?
Eight months later, the defence team still does not have a clear way to navigate the 49,000 plus pages of evidence. "
Has anyone got any news? When the prosecution can't deliver disclosure or, when the disclosure is extremely large and indecipherable it generally means the charges were trumped up.
Then his lawyer says
"Mr Hoch’s lawyer said the was “not one scrap of forensic evidence trying Mr Hoch to the charges” and the case was “circumstantial”.
I can't recall a similar case where a pilot was charged with so many offences and the defense lawyer says "they don't have a scrap of forensic evidence".
There was supposedly a court date of June 13, 2018, Does anyone know what happened?
Is this story subject to some kind of publicity ban?
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With respect to Josh Hoch, a trial has not occurred.
Everyone deserves the presumption of innocence.
CASA, to their rare credit, has not made the leap
into the unknown of treating him as guilty of
"police charges" many of which one would expect
to be laid by Federal Police and not State police.
Now that said, its well known that birds of a feather flock
together, there have an attraction to each other.
Without drawing conclusions on the innocence or guilt of
Josh Hoch, Bob Katter is a in polite terms, a scoundrel.
Katter is now promoting "gun rights", that is seeing an ever increasing
number of guns getting into the hands of the mentally ill.
Its now only a matter of time till we see more American style
tragedies in Australia, thanks to the likes of Bob Katter.
Who is Bob Katter using now for his charters?
It's a long time since I flew in that neck of the woods.
Everyone deserves the presumption of innocence.
CASA, to their rare credit, has not made the leap
into the unknown of treating him as guilty of
"police charges" many of which one would expect
to be laid by Federal Police and not State police.
Now that said, its well known that birds of a feather flock
together, there have an attraction to each other.
Without drawing conclusions on the innocence or guilt of
Josh Hoch, Bob Katter is a in polite terms, a scoundrel.
Katter is now promoting "gun rights", that is seeing an ever increasing
number of guns getting into the hands of the mentally ill.
Its now only a matter of time till we see more American style
tragedies in Australia, thanks to the likes of Bob Katter.
Who is Bob Katter using now for his charters?
It's a long time since I flew in that neck of the woods.
I did see a drilling company in Charters Towers were looking for a baron driver to fly his baron not long after his arrest.
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Josh Hoch on bail until 16th Se[ptember 2020
FINALLY, ON FEBRUARY 5TH 2020 action.
Josh Hoch case goes to District Court « Assistance to the Aviation Industry
District Court in Mt. Isa on 16th September 2020. NOT GOOD ENOUGH if this really involves aviation safety.
Josh Hoch case goes to District Court « Assistance to the Aviation Industry
District Court in Mt. Isa on 16th September 2020. NOT GOOD ENOUGH if this really involves aviation safety.
Moderator
I spoke to someone very directly involved this week and he advised a September trial.
Apparently there are so many charges the amount evidence and documents is huge.
I understand his family lost their home and property funding his defense so far.
Apparently there are so many charges the amount evidence and documents is huge.
I understand his family lost their home and property funding his defense so far.
Big stink from within the TVL office?. Now closed. Oh dear... any paperwork gone “astray”as a result.?
September might throw up something.
Nothing surprises with CAsA and it’s corrupt machinations.
Their involvement and/ or lack of it , in this should bring on a Judicial Inquiry.
September might throw up something.
Nothing surprises with CAsA and it’s corrupt machinations.
Their involvement and/ or lack of it , in this should bring on a Judicial Inquiry.
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ABC News today;
North Queensland man's charges of interfering with planes, sabotage of planes dropped in Supreme Court
A North Queensland pilot accused of tampering with his rivals' fuel tanks has had charges of interfering with planes and associated sabotage of planes dropped in a Supreme Court sitting in Mount Isa.
Today Justice James Henry dismissed the jury after one week of the trial, which was expected to last three weeks.
Justice Henry told the jury in the first five minutes of today's sitting that the Crown would not continue to prosecute the charges relating to interfering with planes and associated sabotage.
"The short version is the case has been dropped," Justice Henry said.
He told the jury that because they had been sitting on the case for a week, he would explain the particulars of the change.
The first was if the contaminants in the fuel tanks had been there as the result of human intervention, the second was if it was done as a deliberate act of sabotage, and the third was if it had been Josh Hoch who had committed the alleged acts.
Mr Henry said it was the third that "was always the prosecution's real challenge" and that they also had to prove motive, opportunity and that he had knowledge that only the offender would know.
"Perhaps unsurprisingly, the prosecution put up the white flag and has dropped the case," Justice Henry said.
"It has been officially concluded, it was not sufficient to pursue a case."
Mr Hoch has further charges proceeding in the District and Magistrates courts.
Link;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-...otage/13226466
North Queensland man's charges of interfering with planes, sabotage of planes dropped in Supreme Court
A North Queensland pilot accused of tampering with his rivals' fuel tanks has had charges of interfering with planes and associated sabotage of planes dropped in a Supreme Court sitting in Mount Isa.
Key points:
- Charges against former pilot Josh Hoch of tampering with the fuel tanks of a plane have been dropped in court
- The jury was dismissed after one week of a trial expected to last for three
- The prosecution dropped the case as it was officially concluded there was not sufficient evidence to prove it was Josh Hoch who had committed the alleged acts
Today Justice James Henry dismissed the jury after one week of the trial, which was expected to last three weeks.
Justice Henry told the jury in the first five minutes of today's sitting that the Crown would not continue to prosecute the charges relating to interfering with planes and associated sabotage.
"The short version is the case has been dropped," Justice Henry said.
He told the jury that because they had been sitting on the case for a week, he would explain the particulars of the change.
Three 'critical layers' in case
Justice Henry outlined three "critical layers" of the case which the jury had been tasked to decide upon.The first was if the contaminants in the fuel tanks had been there as the result of human intervention, the second was if it was done as a deliberate act of sabotage, and the third was if it had been Josh Hoch who had committed the alleged acts.
Mr Henry said it was the third that "was always the prosecution's real challenge" and that they also had to prove motive, opportunity and that he had knowledge that only the offender would know.
"Perhaps unsurprisingly, the prosecution put up the white flag and has dropped the case," Justice Henry said.
"It has been officially concluded, it was not sufficient to pursue a case."
Mr Hoch has further charges proceeding in the District and Magistrates courts.
Link;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-...otage/13226466
Moderator
There is still the assault charges in Charters Towers to be heard? I thought he was also charged with flying without an appropriate license?
