Jailed for a Gesture
Here are some remarkable legal cases involving gestures. They show, hopefully, that gestures are taken seriously, and that there is need to defend them against unaware courtiers.
Is that a threat by Rove?
News on 7Online, may ‘06: A man in the US was put behind bars because ‘he made sexual gestures at a group of children’.
Metro NL, may ‘04: 16 year old Goran P. hears a demand for six years for his part in the murder of Maja Bradaric (blog archive). The ministry of justice said Goran had prior knowledge, could have walked away, but instead encouraged Goran M. with gestures ‘to do it’. (He got five years in jail)
2001: 30 days for threatening gesture on flight from Israel to US
Fined for Gesture:
US lady and Qatari exchange the finger in Qatar - Brando threatening jury in US or gesturing ‘guilty‘ - Skolnick fined for finger in Brazil - Koeman for ‘blind’ gesture in Portuguese football match - Artest for obscenity in US basketball - SA Cricketer Gibbs for faking injury in UK - Russian Tennisplayer Zvereva at Wimbledon for two fingers high - Info on the forbidden Hitler Salute
May 24th, 2006 at 12:02 am
20 may 2006: Bollywood ‘item girl’ Rakhi Sawant has been booked in an obscenity case for her gestures and skimpy costume at a stage show.
May 26th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
26 May ‘06 Dina Rodrigues’s brother Orlanda in Cape Town (SA) regional court for intimidation via a cutthroat threat to a witness.
May 28th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
27 May ‘06 Son of Marlon Brando fined $1000 for contempt of court, because he “engaged in gestures and was mouthing words towards the jury in the presence of the court … as he was departing from the witness box.”
May 31st, 2006 at 11:45 pm
31 May ‘06 Kim Roberts caught on camera slipping the finger and sticking out tongue at TV-crew.
July 1st, 2006 at 7:20 am
1 July ‘06: Warning over obscene gesture in Kentucky.
August 21st, 2006 at 10:37 pm
21 Aug ‘06: A judge was not moved by a man’s apology for cursing and making an obscene gesture in court, sentencing him to 10 days in jail.
August 21st, 2006 at 10:41 pm
16 Aug ‘06, Scotland: Elliot Macrae, who made a threatening gesture to a female witness in a rape case has been ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.
December 8th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
[...] an insult and, together with other misconduct, enough to land Phuprate (and his brother) in jail for the night. Initially when the case came before court in 2002 the defense claimed Phuprate was [...]
April 8th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
[...] Update 30 Nov ‘06: Vick is fined $10.000 by the NFL and donates another $10.000. And although everyone rushes to say it was out of character for Michael Vick, ABC News adds that “Vick’s younger brother, Marcus, made a similar gesture to fans at West Virginia who were heckling him during a 2005 college game”. As far as I can tell it is never out of character for proud, hotblooded athletes. (Check out other fines and even jail sentences for gestures). [...]