|
~Road Scholars~
[OZ] Motorcyclists protest court decision
Wed Nov 3, 2004 7:48pm
209.86.143.229
Motorcyclists protest court decision
07:55 AEST Thu Nov 4 2004
About 100 motorcyclists protested in Melbourne after a court allowed a woman
charged with causing the death of a motorcyclist to drive her car to work.
Motorcyclist Geoff Lording, 41, was killed in a crash on the Northern Highway at
Wallan, in Victoria's east, on October 23.
Melanie Louise Edwards, 27, of Mill Park, has been charged with culpable
driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol, failure to stop after an
accident and failure to render assistance.
Magistrate Ian Gray ruled Edwards could drive to and from her sales job until
her next court appearance in January.
The ruling prompted Victorian Motorcyclists Union (VMU) members to demonstrate
outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
VMU spokesman Alex Money said the members wanted tougher road laws, and for
magistrates and judges to enforce them.
Mr Lording's family joined the protest and his sister, Debbie McMellan, said
they were horrified with the magistrate's decision.
"It's hard to imagine that she has those rights when all of his rights have been
taken away from him," she said.
