Stavros
12-31-2013, 07:18 PM
A court in the UK has refused a defendant's right to settle his court case by combat to the death, an 'ancient right' which he claims is supported by European Human Rights Law (!).
I find it hard to believe that even people who would prefer combat as a means to settle disputes would want to go for it over a £25 fine, but there are some weird people out there.
Court refuses trial by combat
By David Sapsted 12:01AM GMT 16 Dec 2002
A court has rejected a 60-year-old man's attempt to invoke the ancient right to trial by combat, rather than pay a £25 fine for a minor motoring offence.
Leon Humphreys remained adamant yesterday that his right to fight a champion nominated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was still valid under European human rights legislation. He said it would have been a "reasonable" way to settle the matter.
Magistrates sitting at Bury St Edmunds on Friday had disagreed and instead of accepting his offer to take on a clerk from Swansea with "samurai swords, Ghurka knives or heavy hammers", fined him £200 with £100 costs.
Humphreys, an unemployed mechanic, was taken to court after refusing to pay the original £25 fixed penalty for failing to notify the DVLA that his Suzuki motorcycle was off the road.
After entering a not guilty plea, he threw down his unconventional challenge. Humphreys, from Bury St Edmunds, said: "I was willing to fight a champion put up by the DVLA, but it would have been a fight to the death."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1416262/Court-refuses-trial-by-combat.html
I find it hard to believe that even people who would prefer combat as a means to settle disputes would want to go for it over a £25 fine, but there are some weird people out there.
Court refuses trial by combat
By David Sapsted 12:01AM GMT 16 Dec 2002
A court has rejected a 60-year-old man's attempt to invoke the ancient right to trial by combat, rather than pay a £25 fine for a minor motoring offence.
Leon Humphreys remained adamant yesterday that his right to fight a champion nominated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was still valid under European human rights legislation. He said it would have been a "reasonable" way to settle the matter.
Magistrates sitting at Bury St Edmunds on Friday had disagreed and instead of accepting his offer to take on a clerk from Swansea with "samurai swords, Ghurka knives or heavy hammers", fined him £200 with £100 costs.
Humphreys, an unemployed mechanic, was taken to court after refusing to pay the original £25 fixed penalty for failing to notify the DVLA that his Suzuki motorcycle was off the road.
After entering a not guilty plea, he threw down his unconventional challenge. Humphreys, from Bury St Edmunds, said: "I was willing to fight a champion put up by the DVLA, but it would have been a fight to the death."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1416262/Court-refuses-trial-by-combat.html