Judge Dismisses “Improperly Dressed” Charge

July 22, 2013

Appearing in Magistrates Court this morning [July 22], David Robinson was charged with using offensive words to police and being improperly dressed in a public place.

Robinson, 26, pleaded not guilty to using offensive words to police. It was alleged that he told a police officer:“F*** you” and to ” F*** off.”

Robinson was also charged with being improperly dressed in a public place, which appeared to arise from Robinson not wearing a shirt. He also pleaded not guilty to this second charge.

Senior Magistrate Archie Warner said that a man not having a shirt on cannot be considered to be “improperly dressed these days”. Saying he considered it to be a waste of the Court’s time, the Magistrate dismissed the charge.

Robinson was given a trial date of August 21 on the first charge and was granted bail of $2,000 with one surety.

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Comments (25)

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  1. Deliverance says:

    I don’t want to see anybody without a top on unless we’re at/on the water. What’s wrong with you Judge?

    • E$ says:

      hahah don’t be jealous cuz u ank got d body

  2. Cole00Cash says:

    I was under the impression that men being shirtless in a public space is still on the books as being against the law. If this is not the case, then it would be discriminatory to say that it is illegal for a woman to be topless but legal for a man.

  3. Nuffin but da Truth says:

    ohhhh…goodie!….that has opened up the door to TOPLESS on the beach now!

    It would be impossible to secure a conviction now against any female that went topless!

  4. LadyB says:

    Interesting…mmmm…
    guess there goes the pull up your pants law!!!!!!!

  5. Sorry Sir says:

    Nothing wrong with nudity. This guy didn’t have a shirt on. Big whoop.

    There are plenty of advertisements with shirtless guys and women in bras and bikini’s. Ain’t nothing wrong with it.

    Nudity itself is not sexual. It just means you have no clothes on.

  6. Concerned says:

    Isn’t there a law that state’s a man has to have a shirt on when in public….

  7. Terry says:

    If he had not allegedly f…kd the police off this would have never gone to court.
    Then again many b!tch and moan about everything.
    Good job Archie.

  8. RawOnion says:

    If he had no shirt on and a massive pot belly then I say he should have been fined.

    • Um Um Like says:

      Yeah, we should only impose fines on fat people. Thin people need not be punished for breaking the law.

  9. Pastor Syl Hayward says:

    I am almost positive the law against going shirtless for men is still on the books. Can judges just decide on a whim to disregard a law they don’t agree with?

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      Apparently this judge feels like he can disregard laws that he thinks are trivial. I have no idea how constitutional that. I thought Parliament passed the laws, not judges.

      I don’t know anything about this particular man, but usually if a white man gets leniency from the courts there are dozens of people complaining that black people never get the same breaks, it’s only rich white people, etc. No such comments this tme, for some reason.

    • Sorry Sir says:

      No mandatory minimal sentences.

      The judge has all the power here.

  10. justMYopinion says:

    We have to many OLD AND OUTDATED laws on the books…a man being topless is considered a crime being one of them….glad it was thrown out…nothing wrong with a man going topless….I don’t think that a woman would do the same as I would like to think that commonsense (although not too common in some cases) would prevail as there is a difference….

    • Not a lawyer says:

      Men are allowed to be topless on the beach and boats but women are not. Isn’t this contrary to the Human Rights Act? Just asking.

      • justMYopinion says:

        There’s a difference….I’m sure you know it (I’m female by the way)….IJS

  11. musicgirl says:

    The law is still on the books like a lot of other laws that no one worries about. It is still against the law to spit on the sidewalk. That I think should be upheld as spitting is disgusting. But for the shirtless curser. He should be fined for the language and disrespecting the officer but the shirt thing no. Half the men and women walking around today should be fined in that case. Women showing too much of everything and men showing their under drawers or wearing pants that are just too tight.

  12. jaybird says:

    Just another example of the devolution of Bermudian society, aided and abetted by the Chief Liberal in Charge, Archie Warner. So much for Bermuda being another world. Visitors to the Island might as well stay in New York, or London or wherever and experience their own brand of scum roaming the streets rather than pay exorbitant prices to come here and experience ours.

    • Bermewjan says:

      If that’s the case, then yay, well done Archie Warner! The sooner we get out of the dark ages of right wing nationalist conservatism the better. We need to grow our society’s knowledge and freedom. Enough of this ridiculous oppression for the sake of oppression already. Let’s grow up Bermuda!

  13. Concerned says:

    sounds as if you have been understudying Rolf C…. find a new teacher