SIDELINES...

FRIGHT NIGHT

A Maryland driver thought they had spotted a Hallowe’en decoration lying in the corner of a Baltimore parking lot beneath overgrown trees and shrubs. However, it turned out to be a corpse, and due to an “undetermined type of trauma to the body”, homicide detectives are now appealing for witnesses who may have seen or heard something unusual. Miami Herald, 7 Oct 2020.

FAKE COP SNIFFER

A man used fake police ID to convince a woman to hand over her shoes so he could sniff them, an Australian court has heard. The 33-year-old’s mobile phone was also found to have several photos of women’s feet stored on it. (Sydney) D.Telegraph, 25 Mar 2020.

HOUSE OF WAX

An Indian businessman commissioned a life-size wax figure of his wife, killed in a car crash three years ago. Srinivas Gupta, 57, also had a new home built in India with his wife in mind, and at the housewarming party, the wax effigy was guest of honour, dressed in a pink saree and gold accessories and positioned on the living room couch. New York Post, 13 Aug 2020.

A HIGH WIND IN VIENNA

Austrian police fined a man €500 for farting loudly at them in a Vienna park. Defending the decision, a police spokesperson explained: “The person was provocative and uncooperative. He intentionally released a massive bowel wind in the immediate vicinity of the officers with full intent. That went too far.” Court documents show the fine was levied for “decency violation and noise excitement”. D.Star, 19 June 2020.