Just when a new dramatic event was expected to unfold, it came to an abrupt end for team Amos Yee.
This morning, the High Court held a hearing for Yee’s appeal against his conviction and four-week jail sentence, even though the teen didn’t even turn up. His lawyer, Alfred Dodwell, was present though.
Justice Tay Yong Kwang however promptly dismissed the appeal, The Straits Times reports, noting how Yee had completely made light of the people around him throughout the proceedings.
Besides using vulgarities in his police statement, Yee was also noted to be openly defiant of the court while making sure everyone on the internet knew of his ‘bravado’.
“All these were done in the noble disguise of freedom of speech,” Justice Tay was quoted to have said. “Yee’s deliberate use of vulgarities and crude language to provoke reactions seems like someone throwing stones at the windows of a neighbour’s house to force them to notice him and force them to come out to quarrel or fight.”
Justice Tay’s main issue about Yee was just that he had no respect for anyone — not the police, not the court and definitely not the recently deceased.
“I hope that Mr Yee will wean himself from his preference for crude language,” added the judge. “I think real debate and rational discussions of social issues can flourish in an environment of goodwill and civil language.”
Photo: Amos Yee Facebook page
