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Bum-flashing, screaming law lecturer jailed
A law lecturer who had to be removed from her own trial for incessant screaming and who bared her bottom to the judge was jailed for contempt in Brisbane on Friday.Megumi Ogawa refused legal…
Lawyers Weekly
A law lecturer who had to be removed from her own trial for incessant screaming and who bared her bottom to the judge was jailed for contempt in Brisbane on Friday.
She also flashed her bottom on one occasion when being dragged into court.
Brisbane District Court Judge Stuart Durward charged Ogawa with contempt, moments after a jury found her guilty of two counts of using a carriage service to harass and to threaten to kill Australian Federal Court officials in 2006.
Judge Durward sentenced Ogawa to four months in jail for her "disgusting behaviour" during the trial and six months imprisonment for the carriage service charges.
Ogawa, who is a Japanese law lecturer at Lismore's Southern Cross University, sent 83 emails and made 176 phone calls to Federal Court staff. During some of the contact, she made threats to kill registry staff.
Barrister Paul Smith took the case on two days before sentencing and made an application that Ogawa not be present when the verdict was handed down.
Judge Durward read out his full sentencing remarks in Ogawa's absence, before she was carried into the dock by three corrective service officers who had to hold her down while she was informed of the court's decision.
Ogawa will be released on a good behaviour bond in September.
- Sarah Sharples
