Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Supreme Court overturns conviction for masturbating in home
CBC News ^ | 1/27/05

Posted on 01/27/2005 1:34:47 PM PST by ambrose

Supreme Court overturns conviction for masturbating in home

Last Updated Jan 27 2005 11:37 AM PST

CBC News

OTTAWA – The Supreme Court has overturned the indecency conviction of a B.C. man spotted masturbating near a window in his own home.

The Court's decision on Thursday is sure to be celebrated by civil rights groups who argued the conviction eroded privacy rights.

More than four years ago, neighbours saw Daryl Clark touching himself in his home in Nanaimo and called police.

When an officer arrived, he shone his flashlight at the house and Clark jumped back from the window, turning off the lights.

A court in B.C. convicted him of wilfully committing an indecent act in a public place and sentenced him to four months in jail.

His lawyer asked the Supreme Court to reject the conviction, arguing that Clark never meant to be observed and that a living room can't be considered a public place.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: anabaptist; privacy

1 posted on 01/27/2005 1:34:48 PM PST by ambrose
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

ping!


2 posted on 01/27/2005 1:35:06 PM PST by ambrose (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ambrose; martin_fierro
Reminds me of one of my favorite conversation stoppers:  "It's my house, and I'll walk around naked in it if I want to."
 
(HA-HA!!!  Martin got pinged on a self abuse thread!)

Owl_Eagle

”Unleash the Hogs of Peace.”
P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores

3 posted on 01/27/2005 1:39:20 PM PST by End Times Sentinel (I served in Vietnam with Al Hubbard.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

arguing that Clark never meant to be observed and that a living room can't be considered a public place.

Hrmm...so you can be right at the window masturbating, and as long as you're inside, it's okay. Our lovely judges in BC make another great ruling... /s
4 posted on 01/27/2005 1:39:24 PM PST by SweetPilotofCanuckistan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ambrose

Why wasn't he simply court-ordered to buy some blinds?


5 posted on 01/27/2005 1:40:12 PM PST by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ambrose

If the mobile home is rocking don't come knocking.


6 posted on 01/27/2005 1:44:49 PM PST by KidGlock (W-1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ambrose

Privacy rights? The guy was doing it IN FRONT OF A WINDOW where the neighbors could see him. He had the light on, and knew the effect the light would have enough to know he should turn the light off when the police arrived.


7 posted on 01/27/2005 2:00:19 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Owl_Eagle; ambrose
(HA-HA!!! Martin got pinged on a self abuse thread!)

Unnngh.

9 posted on 01/27/2005 2:35:05 PM PST by martin_fierro (I just like saying, "Rancho Cucamunga")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

Guess they couldn't make the evidence stand up in court
Crazy Canadians!!!


10 posted on 01/27/2005 6:52:36 PM PST by davedproudrepub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SweetPilotofCanuckistan

"Gee, sorry neighbor, for throwing that 17 lb bowling ball thru your window while you were jerking off in plain view of my family. Hey, at least it was'nt soaked in flaming oil this time."


11 posted on 01/28/2005 2:23:46 AM PST by SirLurkedalot (I'm back...with NEW and IMPROVED knuckle-dragging action.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ambrose

"A court in B.C. convicted him of wilfully committing an indecent act in a public place and sentenced him to four months in jail. "

Since when is your own home a "public place?"


12 posted on 01/28/2005 2:06:54 PM PST by dervish (on the limb and walking backwards)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ambrose

Curtains! Foiled again!
ha ha ha
/s


13 posted on 01/28/2005 4:44:04 PM PST by Snagglepuss (Thoughts are things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Did they have pictures of him doing it?

If so, convict him. If not, he shouldn't be convicted.

Too many nuts and prudes out there, who either deliberately -or by mistake - think innocent actions are something else.


14 posted on 01/30/2005 5:39:38 PM PST by rcocean
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Did they have pictures of him doing it?

If so, convict him. If not, he shouldn't be convicted.

Too many nuts and prudes out there, who either deliberately -or by mistake - think innocent actions are something else.


15 posted on 01/30/2005 5:39:38 PM PST by rcocean
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ambrose

Was he standing in front of his window? If so, he definitely wanted to be seen and did it on purpose. If he was sitting in a chair, or on the couch, maybe not. It says he jumped back from the window, which leads me to believe he was standing.... Putting on an exhibition for whomever might be watching. They shouldn't have called the police. They should have called their local gay bar and invited them to come over and watch. Perhaps that might discourage the man from doing it again.


16 posted on 02/03/2005 1:21:31 PM PST by _katie_scarlet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ambrose
A court in B.C. convicted him of wilfully committing an indecent act in a public place and sentenced him to four months in jail.

So according to the B.C. court, all the area that a person can see though my window is now in the public domain?

I'm glad it was over ruled. It was setting bad law.

I wonder if a women was caught in the same situation, would it have been the same response by police?

17 posted on 02/10/2005 8:04:22 PM PST by Popman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson