Man in court for throwing shoe at Chinese premier

A PROTESTER who threw one of his shoes at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during a lecture at Cambridge University behaved “unreasonably” and could have caused serious injury, it was alleged in court.

Martin Jahnke, 27, a German studying pathology at Cambridge called the Chinese leader a “dictator” and accused Cambridge University bosses of “prostituting themselves” by allowing him to speak, a district judge was told.

Jahnke threw the shoe towards the stage where Wen Jiabao was standing and it landed a few yards away from the Chinese prime minister, Cambridge Magistrate’s Court heard.

He is accused of using words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Wen Jiabao or others but he denies any offence.

District Judge Ken Sheraton was told the incident happened on February 2 when Wen Jiabao was on a state visit to Britain.

Prosecutor Caroline Allison said Jahnke was sitting at the back of the lecture hall and disturbed the speech by whistling. “Mr Jahnke’s behaviour in shouting and blowing a whistle may have started off as lawful protest but when he threw his shoe it became unreasonable behaviour and an act of aggression,” she said.

A policeman assigned to guard Wen Jiabao said: “If the shoe had struck the premier in the face it could have caused serious injury to his eye or to his nose.”

The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.