Light plane crash at Ball Bay, north of Mackay Qld 24/12/2021

[onetrack]

Maybe the legal grounds for a manslaughter charge simply weren't strong enough? - purely because it was an experimental aircraft, and the warning plate advising such, is there for all to see?

 

But the bottom line is - he still has to face 6 serious aviation charges - and he has to live with the fact, he killed his mate. Not something I'd like to live with.

[onetrack]

The saga of this crash continues, and the pilot still lives in a fantasy world, where you obey no laws and are answerable to no-one. But he's found out, that isn't quite the case.

 

He fronted court today (Tuesday 27/05/2025) to face a committal hearing regarding 17 aviation charges against him, including operating and maintaining unregistered aircraft dating back to 2011, and failing to surrender his pilot's licence.

 

But he continually interrupted the magistrate and the court proceedings, claiming that he had no charges to answer, as the aviation laws only applied to commercial pilots and aircraft, and not to him or experimental aircraft.

When his arguments failed to convince the magistrate (and the fool was unrepresented in court), he walked out of the court, having failed to request extension of his bail.

He was immediately re-arrested on the footpath out front of the court and returned to court, where his bail was was extended - and he was committed to stand trial on the 17 charges laid.

 

He claims the Civil Aviation Act 1988 is unlawful, and the courts have no power over him, as he's a "sovereign citizen". I think he's going to find out that none of his arguments hold any water, and I think we can look to see him facing some serious penalties, maybe even some jail time.

 

Not a single one of these so-called "sovereign citizens" has ever successfully argued their cases in any Australian court, that Australian laws don't apply to them. 

 

I'm surprised the relatives of the gent killed haven't sued him for his death, as it appears a pretty clear-cut case to me.  And I'm surprised that the Police have failed to pursue this pilot for manslaughter.

The simple fact that he failed to replace faulty seat belts and the passengers belt snapped in the crash, seems like a straightforward case of negligence, or failing to take due care, to me.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/ball-bay-crash-pilot-arrested-after-walking-out-of-court/105344884

[Underwood]

What a prat (nicest way I can think of putting it)

He was lucky to get a bail extension, walking out of court without being granted leave to do so is a clear indication that he is a flight risk (flight as in running away from justice)

I would have remanded him and depending on if he had been previously warned possibly held him in contempt.

[pmccarthy]

There are plenty of videos of sovereign citizens being arrested in the USA . They seem to have a serious mental defect coupled with a mania like members of a religious cult.

[kgwilson]

Most are probably MAGA nutters.

[Blueadventures]

This is a comment by a close family friend, I hope the Justice system gets the outcome and penalty right with this matter.  "This was my friends Grandfather killed, The family is absolutely beside themselves and more upset after how this is going".

 

[turboplanner]

16 hours ago, Blueadventures said:

This is a comment by a close family friend, I hope the Justice system gets the outcome and penalty right with this matter.  "This was my friends Grandfather killed, The family is absolutely beside themselves and more upset after how this is going".

 

If relatives have been traumatised they should contact one of the Public Liability Lawyers before the time runs out.