Russian judge wakes up and sentences defendant to five years

The trial was in progress. The defendant’s lawyer was in action in bid to defend his client. But the judge, seated comfortably on his “throne” was enjoying a good nap. Suddenly the judge wakes up and sentences the accused to five years in jail. This strange-but-true incident occurred in Blagoveshchensk City Court in Russia’s far east.

Andrey Nalyotov appeared before Judge Yevgeny Makhno and was being tried for fraud. The jurist slept or at least appeared to be sleeping during arguments made by Nalyotov's lawyer. Nalyotov's family members who were in court were outraged. One of them took out a cell phone and filmed the judge appearing to be in a deep sleep. At some point in the proceedings, Makhno woke up, convicted Nalyotov and sentenced him to five years to be served in a penal colony.

The snooze was filmed and went viral. Judicial authorities were not amused either. A disciplinary panel of Russian judges decided to accept the resignation of Judge Yevgeny Makhno. The resignation was tendered earlier in the week after the film of his purported sleeping during a trial was uploaded to YouTube and received thousands of views. The judge resigned even though he first claimed he was not sleeping; he was listening to the proceedings with his eyes closed.

Nalyotov appealed his conviction and sentence on the grounds the judge slept through some of his trial.

Meanwhile, Makhno himself could face criminal charges. It is an offence under the Russian Criminal Code for a judicial officer to knowingly give an unlawful judgement, decision or other judicial act. Judge Makhno in a deep sleep

Daredevil driver's amazing 75 ft backflip in snow

It was a feat nobody has ever achieved. But daredevil rally driver Guerlain Chicherit, 31 performed the world's first 360 degree jump in a car at 37mph before landing safely on the wheels in Tignes, France. This spectacular stunt took four years to plan.

There has been a lot of cars flipping over snow lately but Chicherit's amazing 75 feet back-flip was the most dangerous stunt ever attempted.

“I had to arrive at 60 kph and be full throttle in the kicker to get the right rotation”.

“In the jump, I knew the balance of the car was good and it took me maybe 20 seconds to realise I had landed on my wheels”, Chicherit said.

He completed the stunt in the morning and then repeated it later in front of thousands of fans as a part of an event set up by the makers of Monster energy drink.

The back-flip had previously been attempted by other drivers but Chicherit became the first automotive-propelled driver to execute a perfect landing.

PC Peach gives statement...: but only problem it's a dog

Every one was surprised when they read this entry by Police Officer Peach.

Police Officer Peach is a police dog of the West Midlands Police.

The statement was brief and said “I chase him, I bite him, Badman. He tasty. Good Boy Good Boy - Peach”.

The statement came complete with a “Signature” from the Alsatian, which was a print of its paw, the Daily Mail reported.

Actually the statement was made by someone from the force in response to a barrage of requests from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for an account from PC Peach on a matter, the report said.

Officers are said to have become frustrated after they continually told the law service Peach was a dog but were not listened to.

But it seems the joke report may have consequences as the force is now being looked at.

The matter will be investigated, DCI Julian Harper, from West Midlands Police, said.

The Professional Standards Department are looking into this, early enquiries suggest it is a light-hearted exchange as a result of a misunderstanding around a police dog and a police officer.