And soon it is not just his skull that is going to be numb.
A Perth man who posted a video online showing him arguing with a Jewish man and calling him a “racist, homicidal maniac” has been found guilty of racial hatred.
Brendan Lee O’Connell, 38, represented himself before a jury in the Perth District Court after firing the lawyer who had been defending him against an accusation that he posted an anti-semitic video online.
O’Connell faced seven charges related to the posting of a verbal altercation he had with Stanley Keyser and Timothy Peach, who are Jewish, and was found guilty on six.
An argument broke out between the three men at an IGA supermarket in South Perth on May 2, 2009, where a Friends of Palestine group was holding a protest against Israeli oranges.
Mr Peach, 19, told the court during the trial that he was a member of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students at the time and had attended the rally to “observe” and hand out flyers to educate the protesters about Israel.
He said he was “angry”, “confused” and “offended” by O’Connell when he started to film the two Jewish men and argue with them about their religion.
During the trial, O’Connell refused to acknowledge Judge Henry Wisbey when he entered the court and, instead, rose to bow to the jury.
About a dozen supporters in the court cheered when O’Connell labelled the proceedings “a kangaroo court” and gave a long, repetitive rant about the King James Bible and the Constitution.
The video that O’Connell posted online was shown on the first day of the trial.
“You have a religion of racism, hate, homicide and ethnic cleansing,” O’Connell says to the men on the video.
“You are a racist, homicidal maniac.”
When the jury found O’Connell guilty on Friday, he shouted: “Free Palestine! Free Iraq!” before being taken away.
Outside court, Mr Keyser’s mother Shelley said it was “a big relief” for the “terrible” ordeal to be over.
O’Connell was remanded in custody and is due to reappear in court on Monday.
I guess representing yourself in court seemed like a good idea at the time. Only it wasn’t, since you are as dumb as f***.
But look at the bright side. While you have been a little behind recently in finding gainful employment, at least your behind is soon likely to be gainfully employed.
