Civil libertarians back nud sunbather in Court tomorrow

[Bushnud2]

Civil libertarians rally behind nude bather in Court tomorrow:


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...5/s1632375.htm

[Bushnud2]

Civil libertarians rally behind nude bather in Court tomorrow:


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...5/s1632375.htm

[Nude in the North]

I hope it works. I couldn't agree more with what they are saying.
We could use some of those libertarians around here.
Steve

[shãybare]

They certainly have my support. Establishing the beach as a nude beach is what should be done.

[Jason Lee]

Ken Wenzel should have gone nude at Alex Bay Noosa (only tolerated/unofficial nudist beach Sunshine Coast)

[Bushnud2]

Elderly nudist 'disgusts' cop


May 08, 2006


The Courier Mail
This article from : AAP

A QUEENSLAND police constable has told a court of his disgust at
finding a 75-year-old male nudist with painted toenails on Sunshine
Coast beach.

The nudist, Kenneth Wenzel, was originally charged under the Summary
Offences Act with creating a public nuisance during a police swoop
on nude bathers at Coolum's Third Bay Beach on July 27 last year.

The charge was later changed to wilful exposure, to which he has
pleaded not guilty.

When asked in Maroochydore Magistrates' Court today about his
personal thoughts on Mr Wenzel's nudity, one of the arresting
officers, Constable Chad McAlister said: "It's disgusting."

Under cross-examination Const McAlister said he did not find naked
men in changing rooms offensive because they were not in public view.

But as well as Mr Wenzel's nudity, his multi-coloured toenails
increased his disgust, he said.

"When you look at him as a member of the public and as a police
officer, its not acceptable (behaviour)," he said.

Mr Wenzel, who has been using the "unofficial" nude beach for around
30 years, said he believed there had been a change in legislation
allowing him to sun bake naked at Third Bay because he had a
reasonable excuse.

He said police had ignored nude bathers at Third Bay at Coolum and
Alexandria Bay, near Noosa, for more than 25 years and both sites
were listed in nudist magazine Bare Facts as "unofficial" nude
beaches.

"I hold respect for the clothed people but there's very few clothed
people I see on Third Bay beach ... I have my towel handy and I
cover (if there is)," he said.

"It's an unofficial nude beach, a beach recognised as unofficial for
many years by custom and police.

"(I believed I had a reasonable excuse) because there had been a
change in the law and the correspondences with the authorities led
me to the impression it was no longer an offence that warranted
police intervention."

The magistrate has reserved his decision.

[missouriboy]

quote:

A QUEENSLAND police constable has told a court of his disgust at finding a 75-year-old male nudist with painted toenails on Sunshine Coast beach.

I would have rebuked that constable thusly: "This is a court of law, not a court of disgust!"

[Bob S.]

Not ony was he naked, but his toes were painted! How dare he!

This constable should be taken off the beat and given a desk job. He is not fit to enforce the law when he cannot keep his own personal judgements out of the equation.

Bob S.

[Trailscout]

Shouldn't we reserve judgement until we find out what color his nails were painted?

[Stu2630]

quote:

A QUEENSLAND police constable has told a court of his disgust at finding a 75-year-old male nudist with painted toenails on Sunshine
Coast beach.

Disregarding the bit about the coloured toenails (for which the constable's attitude was bizarre!), I can empathise with his reaction to seeing nakedness. The constable is a human being and subject to the same emotions as the rest of us.

The old gentleman in question appears to have been doing his best not to offend anyone by using a beach traditionally used by nudists; that he believed was still a nudist beach (albeit an unofficial one); and by his willingness to keep a towel handy in case clothed people approached him. On that basis, I wish him the best of luck in court.

Stu

[Silverback]

As anyone heard what the ruling was on the case?

[John Spooner]

I get the impression that this latest farce is really "sour grapes" on behalf of the Queensland police over a past attempt to prosecute him last February. That backfired on them and cost the taxpayers a few dollars in compensation to him. Copy of newspaper article below.
This latest attempt by them is an example of revenue raising at its worst. They will be scraping egg off their faces again.
Regards. John S.
---------------------------------

LOCAL NEWS
EMAIL STORY PRINT STORY


Nudists protest raw deal

28.02.2006
By RAE WILSON
SUNSHINE Coast beach nudists were yesterday claiming police harassment as they turned out in numbers to support a 75-year-old nude swimmer contesting Queensland’s “repressive” laws in court.

But they believe they already have one over the police who were ordered to pay $750 costs to Maleny retiree Kenneth Ernest Wenzel after incorrectly charging him with being a public nuisance.

Mr Wenzel is still contesting the new wilful exposure charge for swimming nude at Coolum’s Third Bay because he claims “it has been a nudist beach for 30-odd years”.

He argues that the Coolum crackdown is unfair because police turn a blind eye to the well-known, unofficial nude beach at Alexandria Bay.