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Bush attack 'inspired' shoe throw Shoe thrower cleared of offence
(about 4 hours 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. A protester who threw a training shoe at Chinese premier Wen Jiabao at Cambridge University has been cleared of committing any offence.
German Martin Jahnke said he viewed his protest as an "iconic" defiance. A judge said there was insufficient evidence to prove Martin Jahnke, 27, caused harassment, alarm or distress.
Mr Jahnke, a Cambridge University medical researcher, said he objected to Chinese government human rights abuses. District Judge Ken Sheraton sitting at Cambridge Magistrates' Court found Mr Jahnke not guilty after two days.
Cambridge Magistrates' Court heard Jahnke, 27, from Darwin College, disrupted the Chinese premier's speech in Cambridge on 2 February. Mr Jahnke had told the court he was "inspired" by an Iraqi who attacked George Bush in the same way.
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. The Cambridge University medical researcher said he objected to Chinese government human rights abuses and viewed his protest as an "iconic" defiance.
Mr Jahnke told the court he was annoyed Premier Wen Jiabao had been allowed to speak at Cambridge University. Mr Jahnke, from Darwin College at the University of Cambridge, disrupted the Chinese premier's speech in Cambridge on 2 February.
He wanted to indicate his solidarity with the Chinese people. He denied using words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Wen Jiabao or others.
His lawyer complained that the Chinese government had pressurised police and prosecutors into charging the researcher.
They argued that such acts of protest were normally handled internally by Cambridge University.
The Crown Prosecution Service denied that Chinese government officials influenced any decision-making.
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 JahnkeI 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. Prosecutors told the district judge that 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.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.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. "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."
"My aim was to show solidarity with the Chinese people not represented."
'Shoe thrower''Shoe thrower'
Mr Jahnke said he had thought there would be a larger scale protest at the lecture and had planned to join in.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.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 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."
"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.