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Ralph Klein, cream pies and the limits of political protest
 Modern
law courts taking dim view of slapstick stunts
Calgary - Canadian courts are not laughing along with individuals who
think throwing pies at public figures is a good way to get a chuckle
or make a political statement.
Christopher Peter Geoghegan, 24, who hit Alberta Premier Ralph Klein
with a cream pie last last July 7 at a Calgary Stampede breakfast,
pleaded guilty to an assault charge Wednesday in provincial court.
Now the Crown is asking for a 30-day jail sentence. The protester will
find out Aug. 23 whether he ends up behind bars.
Crown prosecuror Harold Hagglund says a jail sentence is warranted
because Goeghegan slammed Klein in the face with "sucker-punch" force.
"The accused felt somehow he was licensed to act by the superiority of
his (political) views," Hagglund said. "Citizens in a democracy expect
their leaders to address them and be approachable ... (pie attacks)
have a chilling or freezing effect in respect to our politicians."
Chretien
pied in P.E.I.
Jack Kelly, Goeghegan's lawyer, downplayed the event, saying his
client regretted the episode and should be let off with a suspended
sentence and a period of probation.
Several supporters accompanied Goeghegan to court, handing out
leaflets listing "10 reasons" why Klein deserved to be pied. Some also
carried pie-shaped placards accusing Klein of assaulting the
environment, health care and the poor.
It was the latest in a series of pie incidents targeting public
figures in Canada.
Evan Wade Brown was found guilty of assaulting then Prime Minister
Jean Chretien with a cream pie on Aug. 16, 2000, in Charlottetown.
Brown was given 30 days in jail but he was released after just eight,
and eventually had his sentence reduced to a conditional discharge.
Other incidents have targeted Jean Charest, now the premier of Quebec,
former federal cabinet minister Stephane Dion, former Quebec premier
Jacques Parizeau and Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay.
The Alberta Federation of Labour set up a Justice For Pies fund to pay
for Geoghegan's legal defence. A spokesman said Wednesday it contained
$1,000.
Web posted by NUPGE:
27 May 2004
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