Murdoch Pie Thrower Pleads Guilty to Assault
He may prefer the stage name "Jonnie Marbles," but British comedian Jonathan May-Bowles is likely better off adopting a new pseudonym:
The Murdoch Pie Thrower.
The man, who is responsible for popping media mogul Rupert Murdoch in the face with a shaving cream pie, pled guilty to assault and harassment in front of a British magistrate on Friday, admitting that he directed "threatening, abusive or insulting words and behavior" towards Murdoch.
It's unclear how British courts will punish May-Bowles, who is expected to be sentenced on August 2. However, the BBC reports that District Judge Daphne Wickham has indicated that he committed "a serious offence" that is often punished with imprisonment.
If he had launched his attack in the United States, chances are the Murdoch Pie Thrower would also be facing jail, though such a punishment for a first time offense would be unlikely.
While the British courts deal with Jonathan May-Bowles, Parliament is still dealing with the Murdochs and the ever-growing phone hacking scandal.
Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee has asked James Murdoch, Rupert's son and Deputy COO of News Corp., to explain why his statements regarding the scandal differ from those made by former executives, reports the Washington Post.
Those executives claim they informed James Murdoch of an email containing information about the illegally accessed voicemails.
Like the U.S., the U.K. has perjury laws, meaning that James Murdoch will likely join the Murdoch Pie Thrower in the halls of justice if it turns out that he has been lying.
Related Resources:
- Murdoch Pie Man Convicted: 'Most Humble Day of My Life' (Hollywood Reporter)
- Assault and Battery (FindLaw)
- Will the News Corp. Hacking Scandal Cause Problems in the US? (FindLaw's In House)