Court clears goat of flower crime

22 January 2013 Last updated at 23:44 ET Gary the goat’s owner says the police bit off more than they could chew

A magistrate in Australia has dismissed charges against a man fined after his goat ate flowers outside the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

Comedian Jimbo Bazoobi, real name James Dezarnaulds, had been ordered to pay the A$440 (£293; $464) penalty for damaging vegetation last August.

Police had argued that Mr Dezarnaulds acted recklessly in allowing the hungry goat to approach the flower bed.

But the magistrate said there was no evidence he had put Gary to the deed.

Magistrate Carolyn Barkell said Mr Dezarnaulds had no control over what the animal might eat, and was unaware of his preference for flowers over grass.

She added that the fine should never had been issued.

“Gary the Goat taught the… cops a valuable lesson… don’t bite off more than you can chew,” Mr Dezarnaulds said after the verdict.

Gary was not called to give evidence and waited outside the court, surrounded by reporters.

View the original article here

Related posts

• NWA clears roadways
• DNA evidence clears Texas man convicted in '81 stabbing death
• Japan sales tax clears final vote
• Bomb threat clears admissions building at Texas State University

coded by nessus