Birdsong's Law Blog

Birdsong brings you another insptallment of weird, but true, criminal law stories.

Auckland, New Zealand: a New Zealander who raped a woman in his car was arrested after he fell asleep and she drove him to a police station.  Vipul Sharma, 22, was convicted in November, 2008, of abduction and rape for the attack which occurred in 2006 in an Auckland park.  After the assault he fell asleep – and woke up only after the victim had driven to the city’s central police station.  Police Detective Simon Welsh said, “She showed a lot of bravery and common sense.  I have nothing but respect for what she has endured.”

Sometimes the worm turns…

Kennewick, WA: A nut job in Washington State thought it would be funny to stroll into a bank on Halloween of 2008, dressed as a terror bomber, complete with fake explosives wrapped around his body.  The police disagreed.

Birdsong says a happy 2009, to all you readers of the weird criminal law stories.  These stories are so popular a few of my students are finding their own weird criminal law stories and sending them to me to put on the blog.  Most of these were sent in by 1L student Alexandra Kardon.  Thanks Ms. M.

Enjoy.

Texas-Mexico Border:  Dirty diapers anyone?  U.S. Customs inspectors on the border discovered several links of spicy chorizo sausage hidden inside some chunky diapers whose owner, a 21 year old woman, said they were merely soiled.  You can’t do this!  Taking certain agricultural products – including sausages – across the U.S. border is illegal.  The woman was fined $300.

Wonder what the chunky diapers smelled like?  Phew….

Hailey, ID: Police say a woman battered a security guard, took off her clothes, punched two officers and bit a deputy. Now, Lori Brutsche-Ely, 41, faces several charges.