A bloke I work with is going to court tomorrow for a neg driving charge. He hit a postie when he was turning into a driveway. Postie got a broken leg. The driver stopped immediately and rendered assistance etc and was co-operative. Zero drugs and alcohol. His first court appearence he watched as the local drop kicks in a t shirt and jeans got done for the fifth time no license, unreg uninsured and another for drug possesion for the 155th time say "boo hoo I am trying to get back on my feet, my girl is pregnant blah blah" get a caution and court costs. The bloke from work in a suit early 50's and a fairly good driving record (some old speeding fines) gets told by the beak "I think you better ask for an ajournment and come back with representation as this can turn out to be a custodial sentance". It is not as if he was speeding and left the scene. Where is the equality.
Tell your mate when he goes back to court, to wear ripped shirt, and jeans, thongs, stink of durry smoke, poke himself in both eyes so they are red and sore and he will look stoned, and pour some JD over himself to get a fair hearing.
I must admit, the few times I've been to court with mates, I've found it extremely entertaining, like the old stoner that got dragged into sutho court, hadnt had a wasn in 20yrs, clothes were rags, matted hair etc... he lived in the Royal Nat Park in a humpy who was gettin done for some dope.. he started telling the judge he was defending himself, and the judge is a fool, cause if god created it, it must be good for you..
The judge looked at the crim, and then at legal aid bloke, and smiled...
Like your mate judge told him to get some legal representation and he maybe entitled to legal aid... Then there were the 20 DUI's, and the stories that came with them... awesome fun!