Man Found Not Guilty for Yelling FHRITP

A judge in Canada decided yelling FHRITP is not a crime in a case involving Canadian TV Reporter Heather Gillis. 

Justin Penton hurled the words at Gillis while she was interviewing St. John's Mayor Danny Breen at the Robin Hood Bay waste management facility in April 2017. The issue for the judge was whether or not it constituted a crime in that context.

Gillis reported she was "humiliated, embarrassed and disgusted" by the comments. Breen said it made him uncomfortable.

But Judge Colin Flynn ruled an emotional disturbance does not meet the criteria for a charge of disturbing the peace.

"Something more than emotional upset and a momentary interruption in a conversation is needed to constitute the criminal offense," Flynn wrote in his decision.When Flynn dismissed the charge, Gillis got up and walked out of the courtroom. On the way out, she could be heard saying, "This is ridiculous."

In his closing remarks, the judge said this doesn't mean people are free to yell it whenever they want and also suggested Canada could add emotional disturbance to the list of what constitutes a public disturbance.

"My decision on the facts of this case does not mean that these noted words can be said to persons, in particular, female reporters out doing their jobs, with impunity," Flynn said.

H/T CBC

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