2000-11-07
I don't know much about court proceedings or law, but I would think if
someone pleads guilty they are freely admitting they broke a valid law.
Despite what the opposition wants to turn this case into, it is not a case
of the legality of metric measures, but whether this particular person is
guilty of breaking the law. And he admitted his guilt. The case should be
closed.
If someone feels that the law is invalid, illegal, or unfair, they should
have a right to sue the authority responsible for the law and have a
different court decide whether the law is valid or not. Or there must be
some other legal formality they would have to follow.
So, I don't see how this case can be a test case for anything other then
only this person's offense.
Would anyone care to elaborate?
John
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, 2000-11-07 17:11
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:9057] UK: Today's case
METRIC MEASURES REBEL DEFIANT IN COURT SHOWDOWN
A market trader has been taken to
court after he refused to sell his produce in
metric measures.
Sunderland City Council is
prosecuting Steven Thoburn for using the imperial system of
pounds and ounces.
Mr Thoburn, who runs a fruit and
veg stall in Sunderland, pleaded guilty to the charge of
using illegal scales.
But in what could be landmark
case, he contested the charge that his actions were illegal.
Testing the Law
Earlier, the father-of-two said the issue is a
critical one for his own business and the country as a whole.
And he added: �It has been proved over and over
again that British people want their food in pounds and ounces.
�I welcome this court case so that it can finally be
settled once and for all.�
Scales Seized
Mr Thoburn�s imperial measurement scales were seized
when his market stall was raided by police and trading
standards officers in July.
He has since resorted to using dual measurement
scales but has battled on by handing over five-thousand-signature
petition to Downing Street in support of his case.
The hearing was adjourned until January 15 next
year.
--
Chris KEENAN
UK Metrication: http://www.metric.org.uk/
UK Correspondent, US Metric Association
