A Townsville man pleads guilty to vandalising the Robert Towns statue by painting 'blood on his hands' and 'slave trader' on an accompanying plaque.
A Townsville man has pleaded guilty to vandalising the Robert Towns statue by painting "blood on his hands" and "slave trader" on an accompanying plaque.He says the red paint signifies the exploitation of Pacific Island laborersPeter John Wright, 41, appeared in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with wilful damage.The court heard police quickly identified the person responsible for the act of vandalism via CCTV.
The prosecution told the court that during Mr Wright's dealings with police he told officers he knew his actions were illegal but insisted they were not acts of "mindless vandalism" and he thought of the graffiti as "street art". Mr Wright also told police he defaced the statue of the colonial-era businessman to signify that Robert Towns had "blood on his hands" over the exploitation of Pacific Island laborers.
The Magistrate refuted the notion the act was not mindless vandalism and encouraged Mr Wright to express his views in a way that did not damage public property.A second person accompanied Mr Wright on the evening of the vandalism but he would not reveal their identity to police. Outside court, Mr Wright said he expected the sentence he received but did not regret the damaged he caused to the statue "at all".
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