Protestor who sang outside policewoman's house wins appeal

A man convicted for disorderly behaviour for singing outside a police constable's house has won an appeal in the Supreme Court.

The court allowed the appeal by Allistair Patrick Brooker, of Greymouth, and set aside his conviction.

Brooker was protesting against search warrants issued by police, outside Constable Fiona Croft's home in March 2003 when he was arrested.

He was later charged with disorderly behaviour.

His protest -- which lasted 15 minutes -- involved him singing a song he had composed about police and holding a placard which read "Stop the Bogus Warrants".

He did it in the morning knowing that the constable had been on duty the night before.

Brooker was convicted in Greymouth District Court and fined $300. He appealed the conviction all the way to the Supreme Court where he represented himself.

The Supreme Court decided by majority that his behaviour had not been disruptive of public order and therefore was not disorderly in the terms defined by the Summary Offences Act.

The New Zealand Bill of Rights gives everyone the right to freedom of expression.

Mr Brooker had told the court he was raised by his parents to believe in the right to protest. He attended the Bastion Point demonstration as a 10-year-old and had participated in many anti-nuclear protests in Auckland.

- NZPA