Post by @glent@aus.social

After all these years nothing has quite so reached Peak South Australia as Premier Mike Rann being beaten up by the husband of a woman Rann was having an affair with.

Happening at the National Wine Centre - peak.

The weapon being a rolled-up Winestate magazine - peak.

The public arresting the guy because the cops were nowhere to be found - peak.

The timid news initially describing the man's accusation as a "comment to the Premier" as they didn't want to defame Rann in case he wasn't having an affair - peak.

Rann's popularity increasing because SA Premiers should have a bit on the side - peak.

Rann walking around with a cut face for months afterwards - peak.

SA Police removing heavy magazines from the sites of the Premier's further public functions - peak.

Mike Rann after being hit five or six times with rolled up Winestate magazine, about a hundred glossy thick pages.

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AI6YR Ben

@ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org 2 hr. ago

@glent 👀 LOL he really was beat up by a woman's husband over an affair? LOL (noting that the news article didn't mention THAT). Quite the interesting politics you have there.

Glen T

@glent@aus.social 2 hr. ago

@ai6yr The news the following morning had to be careful not to repeat the man's statement in case the allegation was not true. In that case repeating the statement would be defamation.

The assailant pled guilty and was sure to lay out the entire thing in his sentencing plea (usually a poor idea, as it risks a higher sentence). Being part of a court proceeding if that was reported accurately then it could not be defamation.

The 'no conviction recorded' by the court pretty much stated their view. The fine of $1000 was pretty much procedural, a penalty for not pleading guilty earlier in the process.