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TWO BASE JUMPERS who skydived off the World Trade Centre “sullied the memories” of victims of the 9/11 attacks, a New York judge said, slapping them with hefty sentences of community service.
James Brady, 33, who was a steel worker at the site, and “ring leader” Andrew Rossig, 34, avoided jail sentences but were ordered to carry out 250 and 200 hours of community service respectively, and each was fined $2,000.
Their stunt in the early hours of September 30, 2013 has been watched by more than 3.5 million people on YouTube. T-shirts glorifying the jump are still sold on the internet, the court heard.
The new Trade Centre, also known as Freedom Tower, is the tallest building in the United States and is constructed on part of the site destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
“After 9/11 the world changed, everything changed,” said New York state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
Brady and Rossig made a “very, very poor decision” to execute a base jump off “an iconic building constructed on hallowed ground,” he said.
“In doing so these defendants tarnished the building before it even opened and sullied the memories of those who jumped on 9/11 not for sport but because they had to.”
The defendants expressed regret.
“We didn’t want this whole thing to get blown out of proportion,” said Rossig. “It’s never going to happen again.”
“We’re sorry and it won’t happen again,” said Brady.
The judge said their apologies were “hard to reconcile” with videos posted on YouTube and a follow-up interview in Maxim magazine, which the prosecution brandished in court.
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This is the best form of praise I’ve seen for this deal yet.
Where`s the UK`s “Special relationship” with the US now?
@Pixie McMullen: Trump is a guy that seems to get his world news and analysis from Fox News. He’s best buddies with Nigel Farage.. because Nigel likes him.
Trump also views the EU as a trade competitor. So anything that weakens the EU in his opinion is good for the US. A bit like what his other buddy Vladimir Putin thinks about the EU too
He will do anything to help the EU fail.
@Dot Com: Speaking on behalf of his Russian masters
@michael: Yup
In fairness, the UK voted out, and the US is not a part, of the EU. UK-US relations are their problem now, and not our concern.
What a shame he doesnt understand its this deal or no deal. And if its no deal, the british economy and overall welfare will suffer dearly. If the british people reject the deal and go for the no deal so they can attempt to do all what the hard line brexiteers wished itll take less than a year before the remnants of their “empire” crumples to just england and wales, at which point their economy will have likely suffered massively . However, undoubtedly the work of people with their heads screwed on will reduce said damage somewhat, hopefully. And, despite not being qualified to say, id imagine thats a best case realistic scenario.
@Cheesy&Boring: don’t be so naive, no deal Brexit suits the US perfectly.
Don’t mind him his a Putin proxy
Looks like Putin is worried the brexit he orchestrated won’t be what he hoped it would be, he’s using his lackey to scaremonger.
@David Linehan: If you have a choice between conspiracy and cockup, go cockup. The Little Englanders are well capable of organising this disaster without input from abroad. Hell, BJ has been banging this drum since Putin was just out of the KGB…
@George Salter: I don’t think he’s taking about put in being the originator of the idea.
@David Linehan: Talk about tinfoil hat conspiracies Jesus, just read what you just posted. Don’t let a blind hatred for a person turn you into a nutjob.
Trump “I have just one question…Where is Europe again?”
Well duh…
So he read the 500 + report already
Yep. Thanks for that Donald
Ignoramus
@Johnny O Keeffe: ignoranus… Both stupid and an a’hole at the same time.
Now if we can just get the Irish government to do the same and criticise the deal and say it’s bad for N.I. and everyone in the UK then Arlene might just vote for it.
@Fr. Fintan Stack: if we say the deal means a united Ireland will never happen she’ll love the deal!
Trump doing what he’s told by Putin again, anything to try make the UK weaker so it benefits Putin.
I see all the Trump haters are out on day passes, however he’s correct. If the UK is still tied into EU regulations then that will have a serious impact on any trade deal with the US and other nations.
Trump a man who says it like it is.
No licking with the Donald.
Trump is correct about everything. It’s laughable to say his policies will bring no growth . Obama said the days of growth were over . Trump proved him wrong .
And western economies grow while being cleaner than those who refuse to sign up . Intentionally crippling yourself so an inferior competitor can gain ground on you is self destructive insanity
It will be alright. It’s like plasterparis, whatever the damage the money people will mold around this. And without understanding we will cheer as we always do
Trump should mind his own business the only thing Trump knows about is his golf course in Ireland and leave it that way
@Donal Carey: This from Trump a man who denies scientific research that says global warming is real?
His climate change opinions are delusional and dangerous, good lord. He doesn’t like the report so it’s meaningless apparently.
Trump would love boris to be PM.
What a fool.
The problem with Trump is his America first way of thinking he lied when he said he wanted to trade with UK just look at when he sided with Boeing against Bombardier it’s hard to know what Trump is thinking at any given time
have your say