MEL Joyrider spared Jail

[markis10]

Bizarre, you have to wonder about security at MEL????

AN Italian national who took a van for a joyride across the Melbourne Airport landing strip believed he was being followed and the police would take his money, a court has been told.

Croce Scarpello, 31, of northern Italy, avoided conviction over the bizarre stunt today, after magistrate Felicity Broughton accepted he was experiencing a brief psychotic episode.

Scarpello arrived in Australia via Sydney on July 23, then flew to Melbourne that same day where he scaled an airport security fence, the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard.

He made his way into the Virgin Airlines hangar just before 6am, stole a Virgin van and a pair of white Virgin overalls, which he donned over his clothing, then took the van for a spin across the landing strip.


Read more: Airport joyrider spared conviction | News.com.au

[samh004]

Wait to he was spared from jail and/or a serious fine because he had a psychotic episode, but he wont admit he had one. I don’t see how that makes any sense. If he’s got mental health problems and is thus unfit to face the charges, then need to be acknowledged and treatment given… if he denies he has a problem, then he’s clearly fit to face the proper punishment.

The fact he stole the overalls surely shows pre-peditation as he wouldn’t have needed them other than to blend in, though I guess that could all be part of the delusion… if he admits he’s a nut-job.

Has this countries legal system gone mad?

[BAM1748]

Wait to he was spared from jail and/or a serious fine because he had a psychotic episode, but he wont admit he had one. I don’t see how that makes any sense. If he’s got mental health problems and is thus unfit to face the charges, then need to be acknowledged and treatment given… if he denies he has a problem, then he’s clearly fit to face the proper punishment.

The fact he stole the overalls surely shows pre-peditation as he wouldn’t have needed them other than to blend in, though I guess that could all be part of the delusion… if he admits he’s a nut-job.

Has this countries legal system gone mad?

Please be careful when you form an opinion on psychotic episodes. (the very first thing with an episode is people who have them don't think they have a problem)

In this case the magistrate made the correct call.

Matt

[samh004]

Please be careful when you form an opinion on psychotic episodes. (the very first thing with an episode is people who have them don't think they have a problem)

In this case the magistrate made the correct call.

Matt

So while another person would get a harsh sentence, because he has had a psychotic episode but wont admit he has, he gets off scot-free?

Don’t just assume I’m bashing people with mental health problems, you know nothing about me, and you’re assuming I know nothing But the legal system clearly doesn’t work if people can deny they have a problem, yet the courts give them a free pass because of said problem.

Get help, or face the consequences, you can’t just get away and do nothing.

What would have happened if he’d driven onto the runway as an a/c was taxiing?

[Will]

So while another person would get a harsh sentence, because he has had a psychotic episode but wont admit he has, he gets off scot-free?

Don’t just assume I’m bashing people with mental health problems, you know nothing about me, and you’re assuming I know nothing But the legal system clearly doesn’t work if people can deny they have a problem, yet the courts give them a free pass because of said problem.

Get help, or face the consequences, you can’t just get away and do nothing.

What would have happened if he’d driven onto the runway as an a/c was taxiing?

Be very careful, as was said. I can't reply fully as I'm on the road, but he did not "get off scot free". good behavior bonds are serious. Magistrates don't lightly conclude that people were psychotic, and psychosis reduces insight. Also, no-one made any assumptions about you personally.
The whole situation is indeed difficult though, I agree.

[markis10]

From the point of view of Australia the handling of the case was correct, there has been a very minimal cost burden and the offender is unlikely to re-offend here simply because they wont get back into the country. The question still remains as to why he got so far before being caught?

[munitalP]

I can't comment on this specific case, but security at most of our major airports is relaxed to say the least.

Security at a major substation or any power station in Australia is 10 fold higher to stop public ingress than any airport. In fact, one VIC power station does the equivalent checks you need for an ASIC or MSIC before letting you past their security gate...there is no walk up and enter (as I have experienced at SYD, MEL and BNE, with their maintenance staff obviously)

The fact that this clown was not electrocuted while climbing the perimeter fence underscores my argument.


munitalP

[samh004]

The fact that this clown was not electrocuted while climbing the perimeter fence underscores my argument.

Or torn to shreds with razor wire.

Points taken above, I would just think a more worldly approach would include not letting him out without an education on his problem, lest he do far worse somewhere else and the blame pinned back here because we didn't give him treatment.