Gary the Goat cleared of vandalising flower bed

THE TELEGRAPH (UK) [23/01/13]

A goat has been cleared by an Australian court of destroying a flower bed outside a Sydney museum. 

Gary the Goat with his owner, comedian Jimbo Bazoobi, outside Downing Centre Courts  Photo: EPA

Gary, the flower-eating goat's graze with the law ended after a judge ruled neither he nor his owner could be found guilty of vandalism of the incident in August. 

Police at the time levelled a fine of AUS$440 (£292) against owner Jim Dezarnaul, a comedian known as Jimbo Bazoobi. 

But man and goat got their day in court, with Gary arriving resplendent in a colourful hat on Wednesday. The brown-and-white goat did not testify, but he had his own lawyer. 

Magistrate Carolyn Barkell said the accused had been eating the flowers when police arrived, but said there was no evidence Gary was there with the intention of vandalising vegetation. 

The goat's lawyer Paul McGirr said the police had issued the wrong penalty order, because it related to a person and not a goat. 

Owner Mr Dezarnaul said the case serves as a lesson to overzealous authorities. 

"Gary's name has been cleared of all this slander," he said. "He was simply eating and I want to thank everyone for coming down here. 

"Gary the goat taught the cops a valuable lesson today, don't bite off more than you can chew."