AN MAN got off to a shaky start to his case at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 23 November.
As he fronted the bar table, he greeted the magistrate with a brightly colloquial “how you going?”
The judge snapped “are you talking to me?”
The accused paused, then stammered “I’ve got someone who can speak for me.”
He then passed on his advocacy to his support worker sitting behind him.
Xxxx
SEVEN years driving with an expired Jordanian international licence has finally caught up with a woman in her 50s.
The woman became trapped in a Dandenong Plaza roundabout after she entered it in the wrong direction.
She then reversed at speed about 15 metres into a vehicle behind her, then fled the scene in her car without exchanging details.
“There were significant language barriers,” the woman’s lawyer explained to a court.
“On what lawful basis did she believe she was entitled to drive the vehicle?” the judge asked the lawyer.
He placed the woman on a 12-month good behaviour bond on condition she wrote an apology letter to the victim and donated $250 to the court’s charitable fund.
She was banned from applying for a valid driver’s licence for a month.
XXX
THE City of Casey is bringing community consultations to local doorsteps.
During December and January, council representatives will be walking the streets in a bid to increase community engagement.
Mayor Sam Aziz said the fresh way of conducting market research was the start of a new council strategy.
“It demonstrates we’re seriously thinking about alternative ways to hear from our community,” he said.
Cr Aziz encouraged residents to answer their door bell and share their thoughts.
“During the doorknock interviews, we will be asking residents about how they want to be consulted, on what topics, and their priorities for council’s advocacy to the State and Federal governments,” he said.
Households will be randomly selected from across the municipality to ensure that all areas within Casey are adequately included in the sample.
