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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Bush attack 'inspired' shoe throw | Bush attack 'inspired' shoe throw |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man who threw a shoe at Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has told a court he was "inspired" by an Iraqi who attacked George Bush in the same way. | |
| German Martin Jahnke said he viewed his protest as an "iconic" defiance. | German Martin Jahnke said he viewed his protest as an "iconic" defiance. |
| Mr Jahnke, a Cambridge University medical researcher, said he objected to Chinese government human rights abuses. | Mr Jahnke, a Cambridge University medical researcher, said he objected to Chinese government human rights abuses. |
| Cambridge Magistrates' Court heard Jahnke, 27, from Darwin College, disrupted the Chinese premier's speech in Cambridge on 2 February. | |
| Mr Jahnke, who was born in the former East Germany, denies using words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Wen Jiabao or others. | Mr Jahnke, who was born in the former East Germany, denies using words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Wen Jiabao or others. |
| Mr Jahnke told the court he was annoyed Premier Wen Jiabao had been allowed to speak at Cambridge University. | |
| He wanted to indicate his solidarity with the Chinese people. | |
| I think it really became symbolic throwing a shoe - a symbol of defiance against a regime or authority that is not accountable to anybody Martin Jahnke | |
| Prosecutors have told a district judge sitting at Cambridge Magistrates' Court how Mr Jahnke blew a whistle, then called the premier "a dictator" and complained that university bosses were "prostituting" themselves. | |
| The court heard he then threw a trainer, which landed a few yards from the Chinese leader. | |
| Prosecutors said the throwing of the shoe was an action which went beyond lawful protest. | |
| "It was a symbolic protest against the presence of the Chinese premier," Mr Jahnke told the court. | |
| "My aim was to show solidarity with the Chinese people not represented." | |
| 'Shoe thrower' | |
| Mr Jahnke said he had thought there would be a larger scale protest at the lecture and had planned to join in. | |
| He told the court that a shoe had been thrown at Mr Bush in Iraq a short time earlier and he had considered making a similar protest. | |
| "I was inspired by the Iraqi shoe thrower," he said. | |
| "I think it really became symbolic throwing a shoe - a symbol of defiance against a regime or authority that is not accountable to anybody, a regime that uses violence. | |
| "I didn't want to hit the premier personally. I thought just placing the shoe on the stage would be universally understood. | |
| "What it was meant to be was a symbolic protest. I didn't intend to hurt people." | |
| Mr Jahnke said he made his protest towards the end of the speech after realising that no one else was starting a demonstration. | |
| Mr Jahnke added: "I didn't expect him to be emotionally distressed. | |
| "His regime is responsible for a number of human rights abuses." | |
| District Judge Ken Sheraton told the court that he did not want the hearing to become a platform for Mr Jahnke's political views. | |
| The hearing continues. |