Greg Ritchie to appear in court

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 68

Greg Ritchie to appear in court

I : 'i I . Tl NZPA-AAP Perth j I The Queensland and | former, I ■ | [test cricketer I Greg Ritihie, has been ■ summonsed to appear in a ) Perth court today charged w*ith; offensive behaviour. |,The charge relates to ) an alleged incident on an ' Ansett ) flight from Mel- j bburnel to [Perth on March ) 15, after . which the star English all-rounder, lan , Botham, was charged with assault) ) ' ! | Ritchie | will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court with Botham, whose !

I I ■ I 1 - ■ I j> case was adjourned from, last Thursday. I t I A spokesman for the) ) Director of |Public Prose-! . cutions (D.P.P.) in Perth, said the summons) was! I handed to) Queensland cricket officials at the! W.A.C.A. ground yesterday | where Queensland, was playing [Western Aus-; Dalia in the; final of the Sheffield Shield. A- ; Ritchie will! be charged! under the Air Navigation) Act with bejaving in an) offensive manner on an air flight, a charge which!

carries! a maximum fine of or six months) in jail. ) ) Federal | police have questioned I Ritchie and the Australian ! cricket captain, Allan 'Border, over the alleged incident. The D.P.P. spokesman said no further players would be charged. Botham ) faces two charges of assault and one Charge of [disorderly conduct when he reappears , in court to[day. ) ))■ After appearing in the East Perth Magistrates

Court last week Botham was released on sAust3ooo ') bail, with a similar; surety put up by his friend, |the former test. great, [Dennis Lillee. No plea yas I required! Bothani faces a heavy penalty if conyicted. For [assault on an aircraft i fan offender faces jail fof up to two years and a fine of up to sAustsooo.) i Tjie; disorderly conduct ' Charge! has ja maximum penalty of six months jail or a sAust2soo fine.