Woman who stripped naked at an airport apologises
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — A 36-year-old woman was given a 12-month conditional discharge after she was found guilty of indecent exposure in a public place after stripping naked at the LF Wade International Airport last week.
“The Bermuda Customs have got a job to do, and one of those is to search you in accordance with the law,” Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told the woman yesterday, adding “if you don’t want to be searched, don’t come through Customs”.
The court was told that Loukai Phillips, who was in a public area in the airport’s Customs hall at the time, was told by Customs officers that they wanted to search her.
Her lawyer Charles Richardson told the court that his client “took her clothes off out of frustration” and described the move as “an impetuous decision”.
He said that his client had been strip-searched every time she came through Customs.
Crown Counsel Auralee Cassidy said Phillips had removed all her clothes at the secondary Customs checkpoint on August 19, after arriving from London.
Phillips, a Bermudian, told airport police: “I would never do it again, I’m just tired of being searched.”
The prosecution had asked that she be fined indicating that children had been present and Phillips had repeatedly used foul language while removing her clothes.
The court heard that Phillips said to officers: “If you want to see me naked, you can do it right …here.”
Phillips apologised to the court, and was given a 12-month conditional discharge.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — A 36-year-old woman was given a 12-month conditional discharge after she was found guilty of indecent exposure in a public place after stripping naked at the LF Wade International Airport last week.
“The Bermuda Customs have got a job to do, and one of those is to search you in accordance with the law,” Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told the woman yesterday, adding “if you don’t want to be searched, don’t come through Customs”.
The court was told that Loukai Phillips, who was in a public area in the airport’s Customs hall at the time, was told by Customs officers that they wanted to search her.
Her lawyer Charles Richardson told the court that his client “took her clothes off out of frustration” and described the move as “an impetuous decision”.
He said that his client had been strip-searched every time she came through Customs.
Crown Counsel Auralee Cassidy said Phillips had removed all her clothes at the secondary Customs checkpoint on August 19, after arriving from London.
Phillips, a Bermudian, told airport police: “I would never do it again, I’m just tired of being searched.”
The prosecution had asked that she be fined indicating that children had been present and Phillips had repeatedly used foul language while removing her clothes.
The court heard that Phillips said to officers: “If you want to see me naked, you can do it right …here.”
Phillips apologised to the court, and was given a 12-month conditional discharge.
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