SA:Man fined over bomb and weapons threats

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2011
SA:Man fined over bomb and weapons threats

By Tim Dornin

ADELAIDE, Feb 15 AAP - A homeless Melbourne man has been fined more than $3,000 for
suggesting to a plane crew he had bombs and weapons in his hand luggage.

Jason Brown was on his way from Melbourne to be reunited with his family in Western
Australia when he was taken off a Virgin Blue flight on Monday night after boarding in
Adelaide for the final leg of his journey.

Prosecutor Anna Brebner told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday that when the
39-year-old boarded the plane the cabin crew noticed some unusual behaviour.

She said that when Brown was asked to put his shoulder bag under the seat rather than
on the seat next to him he responded by saying, "leave it there, maybe it's got weapons
and bombs in it".

Ms Brebner said Brown was then told he would be removed from the plane in line with
airline policies with his comments regarded as a threat to the aircraft.

The prosecutor said there were 125 passengers on board at the time and the offending
was serious given the community's sensitivity to threats of terrorist activity.

Duty solicitor Stephen Law said Brown, who suffers from schizophrenia, had lived in
Melbourne for seven years but had been homeless for the past 12 months after losing his
job.

Brown had saved up money from a disability pension to afford the flight to Perth to
be reunited with his parents.

Mr Law said his client's comments were made as a joke but he now appreciated that it
was the type of joke that should never be told.

Magistrate Joseph Baldino told Brown his assertions might have been empty threats as
there were no bombs or weapons in the bag.

But he said the authorities were well within their rights to take the comments seriously.

Mr Baldino said the offending would have created alarm and fear in the minds of the
passengers who also had their travel delayed.

"This is not a trivial offence by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

The magistrate imposed a $3,250 fine and also ordered Brown to pay court and prosecution costs.

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