No cause for alarm

Our client was arrested after drunken disruptive behaviour in Northbridge and released from Perth Watch House at around 6.00 am, still under the effects of intoxication. CCTV from the Perth Watch House showed that on his way out of the building, our client had activated the fire alarm, causing emergency services to arrive. He was subsequently charged with ‘intentionally creating a false belief’. On reviewing the evidence we advised client to plead not guilty. At trial, we demonstrated that our client was so intoxicated he could not (and did not) form the intent to create a false belief. Our client was acquitted of the charge and we obtained a costs award payable by the prosecution.