Judge could not be sure who was behind the veil

Herald Sun ^ | 21/6/2011 | Paul Kent

[B.Lyle]

A MUSLIM woman sentenced to six months' jail for making a deliberately false statement that a racist policeman tried to forcibly remove her burka has been freed on appeal.

Judge Clive Jeffreys said he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt it was Carnita Matthews, a 47-year-old Muslim woman from Woodbine, NSW, who accused the police of racism because the person who handed in the complaint to police was wearing a burka at the time.

[B.Lyle]

Words fail me. I can only hope the judge deliberately made this decision in the hope of causing outrage, and introducing a requirement to remove the burka in certain circumstances. If this stands, and nothing is done, chaos will ensue. How will any criminal ever be prosecuted if all they have to do is don a burka?

[Real Cynic No More]

So, wearing something to disguise your face gives you a free pass????

[Mr. K]

Take note, bank robbers in his district

[B.Lyle]

From the article, reassuring pics of supporters celebrating with cries of "Allah Uh Ahkbar" after the decision.

[Venturer]

That’s about as stupid a decision as I have ever heard.

[phoneman08]

Also from the article:

Tempers soon rose and they began jostling with police after several members of the group began attacking TV cameramen.

Mrs Matthew’s lawyer Stephen Hopper defended them, saying: “They are obviously happy with the result and are expressing it in a way that is culturally appropriate to them”.

Unbelievable.

[rfp1234]

Carnita Matthews’ parents should be convicted, for naming her after a Taco Bell menu item.