I v. Thompson
Indictment
PLAINTIFF Attorney General
v.
DEFENDANT Lord Billy Richard Thompson
The Crown has alleged by petition that Lord Billy Thompson has committed the following counts:
- Knowingly providing false information on a candidate nomination form, an offence contrary to Section 3(d) of the Electoral Reform Act 2018.
Plaintiff alleges that on the 29th of September 2020, Defendant submitted a general election candidate list via the Office of State nomination form which included one Mr. Alex Nettle, without the prior knowledge or consent of the said Mr. Nettle. The said form states that all candidates must consent to being nominated, and therefore a submission of it is, in effect, a declaration that all such candidates do consent; as this was not the case, the form was used to provide false information.
Plaintiff asks that Defendant be issued a small fine as a consequence of this offence.
Defendant is required by law to acknowledge receipt of this indictment and attend the Court on a date agreed by the Judge, the Plaintiff, the Defendant, the Jurors and the Court Scribe. The Court will facilitate discovery prior to the trial so that Plaintiff and Defendant can share evidence. If Defendant wishes to appoint a legal representative, this should be submitted in writing to the Court. Defendant is advised that non-compliance with Court procedure may be treated as Contempt of Court.
Signed,
Will McCracken 08/10/2020
The Hon. Colonel Sir William G. McCracken
Judge, High Court
Court report
PLAINTIFF Attorney General
v.
DEFENDANT Lord Billy Richard Thompson
Hearing held 26th October 2020 at 8:30pm
Presiding Judge: His Honour Colonel Sir William George McCracken
Court Scribe: His Imperial Majesty the Emperor
Judge ascertained that Prosecution, Defendant and Court Scribe were present. It was decided to use text messaging rather than a voice call.
Judge laid the charge before Defendant, that he:
- Knowingly provided false information on a candidate nomination form, an offence contrary to Section 3(d) of the Electoral Reform Act 2018.
Defendant pleaded guilty.
Prosecution stated as follows:
PROSECUTION: On 29th September 2020 Lord Sir Billy Thompson, the accused, filled out a candidate nomination form naming one Mr Alex Nettle as a candidate for the Red-Green Alliance. It later emerged upon Mr Nettle having won a seat, that he did not realise that he was a candidate. Section 3(d) of the Electoral Reform Act 2020 stipulates that it is an offence to knowingly provide false information on a candidate nomination form. Alex Nettle, having been ignorant that he was named on the form, plainly could not have consented to being named on this form. Thus, Lord Thompson has regrettably committed an offence.
PROSECUTION: The Act empowers the State to ask the Court to award a fine of up to £30 for an offence under Section 3 at 3(e)(i). However, as this is a first and genuinely unintentional offence, and it did not unduly impact the results of the election as a replacement candidate was promptly found, I do not see any need to ask for the full amount.
PROSECUTION: Instead, I ask the Court to award a mere pecuniary fine of £3 as a recognition that wrong was done, without placing undue burden on the defendant.
Defendant stated as follows:
DEFENDANT: My explanation for what has happened lies with confusion over whether Mr Nettle was becoming a citizen of Adammia. I was told in confidence by him he was and would be joining the RGA as one of our candidates. However during the time of my illness when I was not in full control of the party’s election machine I registered Mr Nettle as a candidate as I had not been told that he was no longer a candidate any more for the party. This is regrettable and I take full responsibility for what has happened as party leader and I will be prepared to pay the £3 fine that I may get sentenced with.
Judge found defendant guilty of the charge, and sentenced defendant to a fine of £3 to His Majesty’s Imperial Treasury.
There was some discussion on the deadline and means of payment for the fine before the court was adjourned.
Certified as a true account of the proceedings of the court:
Signed,
Adamus Primus Imperator
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Adam I
Court Scribe