An Australian lawyer has been fined $4,000 for being impertinent to a magistrate.
Barrister Sam Di Carlo was making a bail application last year on behalf of a client when he got in a fiery debate with the presiding magistrate John Costello. During the disagreement, Di Carlo told the magistrate "you don't do things according to the law". The comment didn't go down well and the magistrate made a complaint.
Di Carlo was hauled before the Supreme Court for his outburst. Di Carlo's barrister told the court that his client allowed his passion to overflow occasionally (presumably just referring to his legal work), but that he was unreservedly apologetic for his behaviour. Di Carlo acknowledged that he must keep his emotions in check in future court appearances.
Chief Justice Catherine Holmes lambasted Di Carlo saying that his comments were "an affront to the court he represents" and slapped him with a $4,000 fine for contempt. Di Carlo accepted the punishment and agreed that he had misbehaved and "crossed the line".
Di Carlo also made the news earlier this year when Paul Pisasale, the then mayor of Ipswich Queensland, was detained by police for carrying $50,000 in cash at Melbourne airport. Di Carlo came to the former's mayor's defence and claimed Pisasale was carrying the money for one of his clients.
Tip Off ROF
Barrister Sam Di Carlo was making a bail application last year on behalf of a client when he got in a fiery debate with the presiding magistrate John Costello. During the disagreement, Di Carlo told the magistrate "you don't do things according to the law". The comment didn't go down well and the magistrate made a complaint.
Di Carlo was hauled before the Supreme Court for his outburst. Di Carlo's barrister told the court that his client allowed his passion to overflow occasionally (presumably just referring to his legal work), but that he was unreservedly apologetic for his behaviour. Di Carlo acknowledged that he must keep his emotions in check in future court appearances.
Chief Justice Catherine Holmes lambasted Di Carlo saying that his comments were "an affront to the court he represents" and slapped him with a $4,000 fine for contempt. Di Carlo accepted the punishment and agreed that he had misbehaved and "crossed the line".
 |
A good old fashioned bollocking resolved it |
Di Carlo also made the news earlier this year when Paul Pisasale, the then mayor of Ipswich Queensland, was detained by police for carrying $50,000 in cash at Melbourne airport. Di Carlo came to the former's mayor's defence and claimed Pisasale was carrying the money for one of his clients.