Doohan accused fails to have case adjourned
THE man accused of harassing former motorbike racing champion Mick Doohan has tried to have his case adjourned multiple times at the last minute.
Peter John Edgar is accused of making thousands of Face- book comments about Mr Doohan and Karting Australia CEO Kelvin O’Reilly, alleging corruption and incompetence.
Edgar has pleaded not guilty to using a carriage service to menace and harass.
He has represented himself during a three-day trial and yesterday tried multiple times during closing arguments to have the case adjourned. He argued he had not had enough time to prepare. The first day of the hearing was in October.
Magistrate Gary Finger refused to adjourn the matter.
“I am not giving you any more time,” he said. “You have had plenty of time.”
Edgar said in his closing he had reported the truth.
“As a sporting reporter, I have every right to be critical of those decisions which don’t seem to be right,” he said.
Edgar, who has an interest in go-karting, does not work for an accredited media organisation but instead posts on his Facebook group Federation of Australian Racing Karters Union.
“Most people are too scared to join my page,” he said.
“I didn’t do it to harass O’Reilly or Doohan or to cause them grief.
“What I care about is to inform them on actions of these two crooks.”
Magistrate Finger will hand down his decision on February 25.