Newman speeding fine dropped

The Footy Show‘s Sam Newman has had a speeding charge against him thrown out of court today.

Newman, 64, had been fined $227 for allegedly driving at 72kmh in a 60kmh zone. In an earlier hearing, he indicated the penalty notice did not arrive in time for him to fight the fine.

He planned to represent himself, but the charge was canned after Acting Sgt Jaci Steiger asked for what would have been a fourth adjournment in the case.

After the prosecuting officer could not be found and critical paperwork failed to arrive the fine was then dropped altogether.

Chief Magistrate Gray said, “The prosecutor should be here … The charge against Mr Newman is formally struck out.”

A victorious Newman told waiting media, “You shouldn’t speed and you shouldn’t drive over the limit, but I believe I had a very reasonable explanation, but I didn’t have to do it.

“I appreciate the court’s ruling.”

Newman still faces an unrelated court date in April on a charge of criminal damage arising from an alleged road rage incident last year.

Source: Herald Sun, The Age