Story Archive

Excuse of the Week

An off-duty Northern Territory, Australia, police officer was confronted by a man with a knife in the town of Nightcliff. The robber took the cop’s bag and ran, but the officer was able to call for assistance. The chase went to — and then into — Darwin Harbor, and a patrol boat was brought in to capture the man, who by that time had shed all of his clothing. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, and gross indecency in a public place. But in court, Paul Thompson said he should not be charged with a crime because someone else was “joy riding” in his body and “programming” him to do bad things. Thompson added that he could only remember “bits and pieces” of the incident. (RC/Australian ABC) ...Hey, pal: the last thing the court wants to hear about is your bits and pieces.