An American judge was completely stunned a few weeks ago when a forty-year-old accused of driving despite his suspended license allegedly showed up for his virtual appearance… behind the wheel.
“Mr. Harris, are you driving?” said Washtenaw County Judge J. Cedric Simpson immediately when the accused joined the courtroom by videoconference while driving his vehicle, according to a video reported by CBS News on Wednesday.
The unreal scene allegedly took place on May 15 in Michigan court, when Corey Harris, 44, got himself into trouble by showing up with both hands on the wheel at his appearance for a suspended license.
The forty-year-old would not have immediately understood the extent of his gesture, although he would have admitted his crime to the court in a jovial tone, we can see in the images of his appearance in court, which had reached more than 1.8 million views as of Thursday.
“I actually go to my doctor’s office. I’m parking right now, this second. Yes, I am (now stationed)”, we can see him, without worry, throwing at the court.
But his smile would have quickly faded when the judge pointed out the fact that he had just broken the law in front of witnesses.
“So maybe I don’t understand something. This is a driving record with a suspended license. And he was just driving. And he doesn’t have a license,” began the magistrate, almost amused, at the incredulous look of the accused.
Corey Harris’ lawyer reportedly tried to defend her client by arguing that he had not yet been found guilty in the case, before the judge pulled the rug out from under her by sticking to the facts.
“No, I’m looking at his file. He doesn’t have a license. I don’t even know why he would do that, he said before revoking his bail, according to the images. The defendant will report to the Washington County Jail at 6 p.m. today.”
Completely speechless, then discouraged, the accused then simply exhaled “oh, my God”, before the appearance was suspended.