An expatriate activist who last year scaled a building in a Spiderman outfit in a protest for greater democracy shocked a court yesterday by displaying a placard calling on the principal magistrate in his case to be allowed to work beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Matt Pearce, 30, appeared in Eastern Court facing two charges of criminal intimidation and 12 counts of loitering. He was accused of threatening his former girlfriend Jennifer Hollier, a teacher at Chinese International School, and Richard Blumenthal, principal of the same school, twice in May last year.
It was alleged he loitered outside the school between September 29 last year and February 8, causing Ms Hollier to be concerned for her safety.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges, but during his plea said he was protesting outside the school, which was permitted by the Basic Law. After entering his plea, Pearce, dressed in white, suddenly took out a yellow placard that said: 'Give Ian Candy five more years.'
Principal Magistrate Ian Candy, who presided in yesterday's hearing, said Pearce might give the placard to him on his next birthday.
Mr Candy, who has served for 21 years as a magistrate and deputy District Court judge, will retire in May at the age of 60. Magistrates must retire five years earlier than High Court judges.
